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Can you supply me with a URL to a small file that can not be downloaded through a download manager?  I would like to run some tests by connecting via an HTTP request through a very raw solution - using Winsock.

right and downloaders let you do things like say "download all the mp3s on this page", one after the other.
and even when you have a fast connection, the server might not.

Interesting.  Not something I would need but something I see some users needing. 

I haven't tried GetRight in many years but I have to assume they have been changing with the times.  Meaning: Implementing more features geared towards broadband while still keeping the features and functionailty of their base application.

I'm pretty sure resuming a download was an option decided by the server.... not the client downloading.  Therefore, certain files may not resume because the person setting up the server has not allowed resume and no amount of code on the client's machine will correct that.

Kevin

It may be something that can be prevented but the HTTP spec is what allows the partial retrieval of data.

I wonder how many people still use Download managers.  Seems as broadband becomes more popular there is far less need for a download manager.

I downloaded a 650Meg file without an thought and no need for any managers.

Just curious does anyone watching use a download manager?  If so, what advantages do you get that you like?

I had thought he wanted a tool to resume a download of a file in the cache.  Maybe all he needs is something that clears his cache.  Maybe Maxthon has a setting to set the size of the cache or to always check the server for a new file (basically not use the cache).

The way a file is downloaded would depend on the browser or application you are using to intiate the download.  This really would have nothing to do with Windows - Windows is only providing the disk space for the cache (and possibly the API's to connect to a server)

For instance if you use FTP to download the FTP specification provides a means for downloading a file by specifying the start and end bytes.  This allows FTP applications to resume a transfer.

Like the FTP specification the HTTP specification also provides these means.  I can send a request to a server and specify the target URL (a file in this case) and the start and end bytes.

An application would have to implement these "features" like FireFox does.  So, basically it comes down to your browser or application.

Doesn't FireFox's download manager do this by default.

I already have some stuff thrown together and just need to tie the code together.  The process enumerator, timer, system tray, and alarm / popup system.  I should have first release by this weekend - just need to finish some projects and pay the bills.

To recap the features:
- Display all running processes on the system showing the memory usage
- Ability to set usage alarms
- Tooltip or popup is displayed when an alarm is tripped
- Minimizes to the notification area during use

Application will be simple and specific to the task at hand.

I would not be able to adhere to the no installation part as software I write requires components to be installed.  I can work with the no registry changes, at least from the application is concerned.  The installer would make entries in the registry...

Sorry about that and let me know if that is a show stopper.

That gives me something to think about...

A limited version download and once registered download the full version.

I am going to give this some serious thought for the v3.0 release..

Thanx for the ideas.

Is this Idea open for development.  If so, I would happily create an application per the OP specs.

Let me know and I can knock something up...

Another option is my Note-It application.

Right-click on the caption on the bottom and you have options for Word Count and Character count.  Note-It also includes special notes for a Clipboard viewer and Clipboard Log...

Just another option..

Added: Its a freeware application

How about having a secure download page where the serial has to be entered to get the download, then only codes you have issued could work.

You can't stop what's out there but you can stop people downloading from your site, and make future editions more secure.

Good idea but as a shareware application I want people to try-before-buy.

Its a hard balance of making it easy and painless for honest users and protecting against the people looking for free software.

What I used to have is an ASP page that handled a redirect to the file.  The page compared the referrer to a list of blacklisted domains and if all passed I streamed the file to the browser.  The problem with this is my current host does not allow custom error pages located in the root web folder and was absorbing some information from the referrer.

just be careful about going overboard veign -
i hear developer's sometimes talk about booby trapping their programs to erase files on the users computer, or make the program behave erratically.  these can backfire on a developer by causing real anger from people who might have been potential customers, and can make people believe your program is buggy and thus not worth purchase.

I would never do this.  I gather no information and would never mess with the host computer in anyway (unless the application is designed to specifically do so)

What I meant is I have protection things in place (active and passive) that do not affect the applications performance or affect users in any way, shape or form.  No user would know what is being done and no information is pulled from their system or sent to me in anyway.

Sample of what I do;
How to protect better:
http://www.searchlores.org/protec/protec.htm

I just take the above further to try and stay ahead.  Its an uphill battle at times (usually around new releases) but it gives me some peace of mind.

I know in the end if someone wants my application for free they will get it.  I just try and prevent the majority and not the few skilled, determined people from getting the application for free.

Even after all the bad with that experience I just can't let the application go.  I will be entering the development phase of v3.0 within the next couple of months and will be rethinking the shareware idea when I release it...

So frustrating and the reason why I need to do something different and possibly move totally away from Shareware. 

Just found out today that my latest version of Cfont Pro has a serial code floating around on blogs.  They are starting to hit the website hard.  So far hit me for about 5Gig and will be around 10Gig by days end.  Hopefully this will decreaseover the next couple of days...

Its too bad I can't discuss measures I am taking to help protect the application because that would defeat it.  I may post a blog message about general things that can be done to help protect software but not sure if I even want to make that public.

That's a good point mouser. 

I am working on the next release of Link200 which cleans IE favorites.  The next version will include a cleaner for FireFox too.  This application will be Donationware and I will be working on a new system for Veign to register the product.

Going to try and figure out a method so that anyone that wants the application can get it and I receive something of value in return...

And in response about underperforming applications:  My rule of thumb when creating an application is "Eat your own dogfood" so I use all applications I release.  Even if its underperforming in the public I still would update it as I use it. 

My philosphy has been create an application out of need and release it to the public as they may also have a need for it.  Creating the application lets me control the features.  This way I get an application exactly how I want or think it should function.

Thanx all...

Hopefully I will have more to contribute to this forums / website as I think that DonationCoder is really pushing to move things in the right direction.  We seem to share a common belief in creating software.

Also, the creator of HiJackThis has a StartupList application which creates a nice report of start up objects and other things that could potentially be unsafe.

btw speaking of bandwidth overload, if veign or any other freeware/donationware author finds themselves unexpectedly running out of bandwidth for their months alotment or whatever, just drop me a line and we'd be happy to host your file until things cool down.

Thanx for the offer..

I am going to work on a new type of Donationware definition and try and setup a logical and easy to use registration system for Veign over the next few weeks.

Hopefully I can come up with something that makes sense and increases the user response to me on the software - either monetary, an email with a bug / feature, or a review on Download.com or FileForum.

Like you said mouser there is just not enough time in the day and so many ideas.

PS: Really sorry to hear that about Cfont Pro. It's one of the few high-end font management apps around, period.

Even after all the bad with that experience I just can't let the application go.  I will be entering the development phase of v3.0 within the next couple of months and will be rethinking the shareware idea when I release it...

Maybe the definition of donation needs to be redefined. 

Lets say someone tells me about a bug or a feature that I had not thought about.  The value of this far exceeds the monetary value of lets say 10 users registering the product.

Maybe what needs to be done is to create a page where users register and then 'donate' in one of three ways: monetary value, bug report (something not already on a bug list), or feature / idea request.  Actually lets add a forth: review.  A review for me carries alot of weight on some of the download sites to influence a new user to download and try the application

This would allow a user, any user have the capability to register the application with little or no out-of-pocket.  The user gets the application and I, as the developer, receive something of value.

Now there is no execuse for a user to be using a pirated copy..

Thoughts?

my general impression is that pirated software doesn't effect sales significantly.  it could eat up bandwidth but that just means its spreading the word about your program.  like they say in acting, no publicity is bad publicity.  there was a post recently talking about a microsoft guy was admiting that some level of piracy is good for business.  did you notice sales go down when this happen? or was it just bandwidth.

Sales was steady but the bandwidth costs killed me.  5Gig / day was way more than I could afford per month.  It became not worth it..

I totally agree that warez sites help get the word out about software but in my case the downloads from warez sites far exceeded the downloads of honest users.

i've toyed with the idea of making a donation mandatory, but not specifying any threshold amount.  even though its not the accepted definition of donationware, that definition of donationware seems to me much more logical (ie when it is mandatory to make a donation, but the amount is unspecified).  i'd be curious to hear how it goes.

This is something I am going to try with one of my shareware applications and a new version of a freeware application I have.  See if users will accept this and understand that ANY donation gets them a registration code.

ps. veign your url links are little broken.

Fixed the links - was adding them the same way as another forum type and this forum works slightly different.

Wanna see bad interfaces then check out the Interface Hall of Shame

(fixed link)

The problem I have is that I can justify my time late at night to do development on my applications but that will only take things so far. 

There are some advanced components that I had wanted to purchase for future releases that were not available as freeware or the freeware versions were not stable enough.  This is where I have a hard time justifying the cost. 

Some users just don't understand the massive amount of time to create a solid application.  A small donation of $.50 per user would make a huge difference.

Wanna hear what almost made me give up: 
I created a pretty solid, well put together font manager called Cfont Pro.  The early versions of the application was freeware but I thought this release was good enough to go shareware.  I released the application as shareware and started getting good feedback, some listings on graphic design websites, and good downloads from shareware websites.  Now the application had been out maybe 3 days max and I noticed the traffic on the site getting up around 5 gig of bandwidth  per day and increasing.  I looked at the URL's and noticed the application had been cracked and the warez sites picked it up and was hammering my website. 

I created a blacklist script in ASP that looked where the person was coming from and re-directed to an Anti-piracy webpage.  This slowed things down but it still was costing me money in bandwidth.  Later what I did is put the primary download from Download.com and other sites that host the file.  This has helped tremendously.

Every version that comes out gets cracked fast.  I try and stay ahead by doing some things that makes the crack un-usable so most users would not get a working copy from the cracks / key gens.

This is what almost made me throw in the towel and not create applications anymore for the public.

(FYI: I just changed Seeker to a Donationware application and any size donation gets you a registration key)