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10051
Living Room / Re: Why don't you pay for software?
« Last post by wraith808 on May 28, 2007, 09:52 AM »
I don't think most people associate pirates with the extreme negative connotations you bring up.  I mean, look at the top movie of the Memorial Day weekend... is it Coders of the Carribean?  I think not... LOL
10052
Living Room / Re: Why don't you pay for software?
« Last post by wraith808 on May 28, 2007, 09:25 AM »
It's just a term... some people do say unauthorized duplication/usage.  But pirate is a bit more catchy than unauthorized duplicator ;)
10053
Living Room / Re: Why don't you pay for software?
« Last post by wraith808 on May 27, 2007, 08:47 AM »
I know coders have to eat, but other than the forums here, where are most people going to meet one? You’re just some abstract entity working all hours on caffeine and pizza.
-mikiem (May 26, 2007, 10:58 PM)

This is actually a very interesting point.  Though times are changing, it is still all too common that when someone asks me what I do, and I say that I'm a software developer, or even a computer programmer or coder, they say "huh?  so what is it you do then?"

People *are* pretty divorced from the process that creates the software that they consume, and its become not just some sort of black box, but more akin to storks bringing babies or babies appearing in cabbage patches- they just don't know, don't care, and have the notion that it's *just there*.  I don't really know how to combat this, or to cause the layperson to realize that software *does* have value, which I think is one of the reason that the average person *is* so ready to engage in casual piracy if someone offers them a 'copy' of the software.
10054
Living Room / Re: Why don't you pay for software?
« Last post by wraith808 on May 26, 2007, 04:33 PM »
I'm not saying there should be no reward for the effort, i'm saying giving the reward shouldn't be ENFORCED upon the user.
-Gothi[c] (May 26, 2007, 02:23 PM)

But that's just it.  It's not forced on you.  Just as the developer chooses to spend his time making software for whatever rationale, then chooses to price it at what he thinks the price should be, the user has a choice of paying what the developer chooses to charge, or not use the software.

I made a nice little piece of software one time, just for me, but decided to make it available to the public.  I spent the money on bandwidth for them to download it (this was before these freeware sites became prevalent) and didn't put any controls on the software.  All I asked was that people who downloaded the software send me a short e-mail saying what they liked or didn't like about it... or even just their location if they wanted to.  I just wanted to get some feedback and metrics.

Do you know how many e-mails I received over 6 years of hosting it?  3.  Believe me, that was a *lot* less than the number of downloads.  It's not just naive to depend upon the good will of users to support you in what you work at for a living, it's also IMO fiscally irresponsible, for most people, given a choice, will *not* donate.  And that's just the plain facts.
10055
Living Room / Re: Why don't you pay for software?
« Last post by wraith808 on May 26, 2007, 02:17 PM »
In the end, all forms of mercantile transaction is based on ideas.  There was some idea that created whatever asset is being traded.  If there were no rewards for ideas, then pretty soon the people who were making the more banal items would find that they had no basis for new goods.
10056
Living Room / Re: Why don't you pay for software?
« Last post by wraith808 on May 26, 2007, 11:37 AM »
I like to think if microsoft charged $100 for Vista, more people would think it was worth it and not try to steal.  I don't pirate, but I also don't like making the richest man in the world - richer!    :mad:
-Padlock6 (May 25, 2007, 10:23 PM)

So... just because someone is the richest man in the world, he has no right to make more money?  It just seems that a lot of people have a funny attitude towards someone that is a success.  And once their contemporaries become successes, they accuse them of selling out- but that position is, in most cases, envy, because when they have an idea or business that succeeds, they don't limit themselves in how much money or proceeds they get from their venture.
10057
Living Room / Re: Why don't you pay for software?
« Last post by wraith808 on May 26, 2007, 11:31 AM »
No one should make money off software. Work at mc donalds and code / contribute to projects in your spare time. (or use a donationware model, don't FORCE payment and ownership) it is a BASIC right to copy/modify/run software as you wish, because software is NOT property, software = ideas and creativity, and limiting ideas and creativity with ownership is always a bad idea. That is the ethical truth.

The practical truth is, that sometimes it's nice to get paid for what you like to do (and if you don't like to do it, you shouldn't be doing it). But that doesn't make it ethically correct. I'm sorry but I just don't believe in ownership of software.

More on topic: Paying for software should be done out of sympathy, goodwill, brotherhood with the developer, not because you have to, just to have the 'privilege' to use the software.
-Gothi[c] (May 26, 2007, 03:09 AM)

In your opinion.  There is nothing "ethical" about not charging for software, just as there is nothing "ethical" about not charging for ideas.  It's my right to do as I want with the ideas I come up with.  And if I'm not getting paid, then I'll move on to something I am getting paid for, in regards to things that don't interest me.  This moral high horse about all software should be free is laughable.  Is my time worth nothing?  Is my effort worth nothing?  You're paying for a license to use the software, just as you pay for a license to use a book, or anything else that doesn't have a tangible part.  You have no *right* to anything that *I* create.  For you to force your idea of "ethics" on someone else using the guild trip argument is no different than someone who says that your idealogical stance is incorrect because they have a different one.

And what do you do for a living?
10058
Living Room / Re: Why don't you pay for software?
« Last post by wraith808 on May 25, 2007, 03:15 PM »
I think many people miss the fact that there are those out there who live off the money from software, and the functionality of the software does enrich the computing experience, making the time spent developing it worth money.

Personally, to me it's all about the pricing of software in relation to the value, especially when the software is from an individual or small firm.  An example is the special this month.  There were specials on different software: ED for windows, SynchronizeIT and ZuluPadPro were the  ones I was interested in.  After comparing ED to windows to my other alternative, even at the discounted price, I paid more for the editor I wanted.  Because in the end, the time it saved me was worth the increas in price.  SynchronizeIT I gladly used the discount for.  I thought at the regular price it was overpriced for how much use I would get out of it, but at the discounted price, I could afford to pay for the minimal use I'd get out of it.  ZuluPadPro I paid full price for.  Why?  Because the original price wasn't *that* much, and for the functionality, it was worth it.

I guess in the end it comes down to three questions.
  • What is your software worth to you? 
  • How much time does it save? 
  • If it wasn't available because the developer couldn't afford to make it, how much would that hurt your productivity?
10059
Best Text Editor / Re: best text editor was killed by Borland
« Last post by wraith808 on March 20, 2007, 11:10 AM »
Oh, as a developer, I understand.  I think that you have to have a roadmap, and don't integrate suggestions unless they are a part of that roadmap.  Sure, X may be a good idea, but is it along your primary purpose for the app?  Is it a logical upgrade?  Or is it just something that will be good to have?

If you set out to make a simple text editor, just to edit text... and a user complains about lack of FTP capability, is that part of your mission statement?  Sometimes, you have to just direct users to an app that will satisfy what they need- because your app doesn't serve their purpose.

But, of course, money is an overriding factor, and noone wants to lose a paying customer...
10060
General Software Discussion / Re: Vista: Download Disaster?
« Last post by wraith808 on March 13, 2007, 11:09 AM »
Heh...that's one of the reasons I *just* bought a new laptop.  So I could get XP on it (not to mention the sales now that M$ is pushing the retail channel to get rid of any XP machines).  I got a sony vaio SZ that was sitting right next to a vista one... the last one they had.  The Vista one was 2279.00.  The XP one was 1519.00.  What a deal! LOL!
10061
Best Text Editor / Re: best text editor was killed by Borland
« Last post by wraith808 on March 13, 2007, 10:36 AM »
As far as I can tell, it hasn't been degraded.  Left in the wind with no updates, yes... but as I state in another thread, I still use Multi-Edit 8 because it had all of the features that I wanted.  Too many times, I think, good software becomes bloat ware because too much gets added to it- companies don't know when to stop.  IMO Delphi is a good example of this- they tried to become Visual Studio, and now the new versions are bloated, and take forever to compile.
10062
Best Text Editor / Some more editors of mention...
« Last post by wraith808 on March 11, 2007, 11:05 AM »
I've used Multi Edit for years.  They don't have lifetime upgrades, so I still use an older version, but as a person who tries every text editor out there, even the older version is excellent for programmers.

http://www.multiedit.com

For lightweight editing, I also use notepad++.  It's open source, it handles most anything I throw at it, and it's light weight.  What else can you ask for?

http://notepad-plus....orge.net/uk/site.htm

I also use raize scratch pad.  I just like the interface on this one- and the price wasn't too bad on it.

http://www.raize.com...ratchPad/Default.asp
10063
Best Text Editor / Re: best text editor was killed by Borland
« Last post by wraith808 on March 11, 2007, 10:57 AM »
For something dead, it sure is kicking around...

Amazon: http://www.amazon.co...173628486&sr=1-1

Digital river Borland shop:
http://www.digitalri...GRP=0&CACHE_ID=0

It's very expensive though...
10064
Living Room / Re: OK - lets get to know each other... who are you, what do you do, where from?
« Last post by wraith808 on January 23, 2007, 02:15 PM »
Hello everyone!

I'm wraith808, a computer programming consultant from Atlanta, GA.  I've been freelancing about 13 years now, and have been in the field for about 16 years.  Hope to be a good dc contributor!
10065
Living Room / Re: How do you spend your time on the computer?
« Last post by wraith808 on January 23, 2007, 02:00 PM »
What don't I do on the computer?

I'm on the computer a good 80% of my waking hours between work and leisure...
10066
N.A.N.Y. Challenge 2007 / Re: AutoFTP - v1.00.01 - January 1, 2007
« Last post by wraith808 on January 23, 2007, 12:30 PM »
It's unfortunately based completely on local drive to FTP currently... I can see what I can do about adding that to v2.  Thanks!
10067
N.A.N.Y. Challenge 2007 / Re: AutoFTP - v1.00.01 - January 1, 2007
« Last post by wraith808 on January 02, 2007, 01:24 PM »
It is possible to launch from the commandline... autoftp.exe /run:<configuration filename>

So in the example in the screenshot, you'd use autoftp.exe /run:Test

As far as the others, I'll look into adding the features.  Glad you like it!
10068
N.A.N.Y. Challenge 2007 / Re: SelectoSurf v1.0.2 - Dec 25,2006 - AutoHotkey Script for Plaintext URLs, etc.
« Last post by wraith808 on January 01, 2007, 02:29 PM »
No... I meant windows... right click on start, properties, task bar, hide inactive icons at the bottom.  You can set the icon for ahk to never show...


10069
N.A.N.Y. Challenge 2007 / Re: SelectoSurf v1.0.2 - Dec 25,2006 - AutoHotkey Script for Plaintext URLs, etc.
« Last post by wraith808 on January 01, 2007, 01:58 PM »
However, icons icons icons icons and icons
- I can have no more icons in the system tray!

Mouser, please consider a version that does not display an icon in the tray?

-Curt (January 01, 2007, 09:07 AM)

You *do* realize that you can customize windows to not display icons ever for some applications?  They will be there, but hidden...
10070
N.A.N.Y. Challenge 2007 / Re: A Dark and Deadly Path - v1.05.01 - December 31st, 2006
« Last post by wraith808 on January 01, 2007, 01:55 PM »
Do you know that this was going to be my entry into the coding contest if I had gotten off my butt and coded it... good work!  I guess that great minds do think alike...  ;)
10071
N.A.N.Y. Challenge 2007 / AutoFTP - v1.00.01 - January 1, 2007
« Last post by wraith808 on January 01, 2007, 01:39 PM »
AutoFTP - v1.00.01 - January 1, 2007

    * First public release.

Version 1.01 - April 19, 2008

Changes:
Supports Passive FTP.
Removed RAS.
Supports deleting files after transfer.
SMTP is Asynchronous.
Added space for SMTP Auth.
Added a more verbose logfile mode.

Planned changes:
Make FTP Asynchronous.
Add option to save verbose logfile locally.
Add option to cancel operation in progress.

WHAT IT DOES:
What do you do when you need to upload files out of a directory at intervals?  Sure, there are several FTP programs out there, but most of them are pretty large, and are made for attended FTPs.  What this FTP program does is very simple.  It allows you to configure a directory, a server to ftp to, and an e-mail address.  Using the windows scheduler, you can schedule a job for the program using the /run:<configuration name> parameter.  Then when the job executes, everything in the local directory is uploaded to the remote directory, and an e-mail stating the success or failure of the job is sent.

SCREENSHOT:
autoftp.jpg

DOWNLOAD: Auto FTP
10072
N.A.N.Y. Challenge 2007 / XL Data Analyzer - v1.00.01 - December 31, 2006
« Last post by wraith808 on December 31, 2006, 10:41 PM »
XL Data Analyzer - v1.00.01 - December 31, 2006

    * First public release.

WHAT IT DOES:
This program was born of a need to perform analysis on excel data.  Basically, if you have a column of scale (time, distance, etc) and a column of values for each member of the scale (blood pressure measured per second, for instance), you can enter different discrete values on your scale, and the program will scan that area of the excel sheet, and either average the values, find the floor of the values, or find the ceiling of the values.  So... let's say you had a spreadsheet of heart rates over time, and wanted to average the heart rates for discrete periods... you could enter the starting time, and ending time, and the program would average the heart rates over that period of time.

SCREENSHOT:


XL Data Analyzer
10073
Official Announcements / Re: THE N.A.N.Y. CHALLENGE - New Apps For the New Year
« Last post by wraith808 on December 11, 2006, 10:47 PM »
Count me in... I always have ideas, but never finish, so this is a good incentive to do so.
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