Recent Posts

27901

SMF Forum Mods / Re: Is there a better way to handle Gri's posts?

« Last post by mouser on January 21, 2007, 06:58 PM »

so far, Gri has successfully managed to stir up an interest and a bit of controversy about his/her/its art work - this is what artists do nowadays. i just need to know how to purchase Gri's artwork now before it becomes widely sought after.

27902

Find And Run Robot / Re: New FARR v2 Icon Design Needed

« Last post by mouser on January 21, 2007, 02:40 PM »

That's pretty cool.  Should be a new FARR beta tonight (finally - sorry for delay), and i'll add this.

27903

SMF Forum Mods / Re: Is there a better way to handle Gri's posts?

« Last post by mouser on January 21, 2007, 07:45 AM »

It also might help to put all this in perspective to know that Anderson actually messaged me after he posted the original poll, and before I had seen it, to ask me if he thought he may have gone a bit too far in posting the poll, and asking if i thought he should remove it, so there really isn't any internal disagreement here - i think everyone is left yet again feeling like the dc community has shown why it's a nice place to hang out 

27904

Living Room / Re: The lego car factory - neatest thing EVER

« Last post by mouser on January 21, 2007, 06:26 AM »

Please attach pics to posts like this so we can blog them!

27905

SMF Forum Mods / Re: poll: Do you think Gri's posts should be allowed here any more?

« Last post by mouser on January 21, 2007, 05:57 AM »

I just think it's important to remember there may be people who one doesn't like, doesn't get along with, etc.  But I think we would do well to think of this as a family.  If you really can't get along with someone, you seek ways to avoid them, you don't ban them from the family gathering.

And if you are smart you might event try to find ways to appreciate their eccentricities, even if you can't stand sitting next to them at the dinner table.

I don't want anyone to think that they are going to be banned here if they start taking positions that I or other people here don't approve of - I think it's important for all of us here to feel like we are in this together, and no one is going to be "banned" from this forum unless they are damn well maliciously deteremined to cause so much damage as to force that to happen.

27906

SMF Forum Mods / Re: poll: Do you think Gri's posts should be allowed here any more?

« Last post by mouser on January 21, 2007, 05:33 AM »

I love Anderson but tsaint's words captured my feelings exactly.

We have prided ourself here on being able to find unconvential solutions to our challenges - and in getting along.

The idea of "not allowing" someone to post who isn't trying to be malicious and isn't deliberately trying to break rules seems not at all in our spirit.

Not to mention the fact that I like gri.. He is just different.  His posts are about SMF forum stuff, and he is posting in the SMF forum section.

I understand the concern Anderson has, which is the gri is posting stuff that is not quite comprehensible to the smf section, and may start posting more and more new threads.  It might be comparable to if he was posting in another language that no one can read.

If anything needs to be done it might simply be to ask gri to do the same thing we ask everyone to do, which is not start a new thread when posting replies on an existing gri thread might be more appropriate in order to not create so many threads.  I can see that Anderson's concern is only that having these posts that people don't understand might confuse people, especially new visitors.

If gri were posting tons of posts all over *all* sections of the forum that no one could understand then we would ask him to stop (note i still think it's inappropriate to talk of "disallowing" people to post until things really degenerate and no one will listen to reason).


This kind of thing happens all the time when situation of someone who loves their community (Anderson) being a bit too quick on the draw and being a bit too overprotective.  I've seen it a lot when mods on a forum become hyper-vigilent and things tend to go up in flames.   Thankfully there are some wise folks like me and tony who can take things a little slower and calm the waters

So - i'm going to remove the poll and leave this thread for us to discuss.  If there is some guidelines that we would like to come up with that might address anderson's concerns regarding gri, i welcome there discussion.

I would also remind people once more that you can set certain sections of the forum that you want to ignore.  The SMF section of our forum is really pretty esoteric and you wouldn't be missing much by marking is as ignore if gri's posts get to you.


i love this comment from tsaint:

even if Gri were found to be on the outer limits of eccentricity, haven't we got room to adopt him/her as our very own eccentric?

well said.  we are a family here and surely we can find a way to be a crazy family and make room for anyone who is trying in good faith to be part of it. 

27907

ProcessTamer / Re: Process Tamer - LATEST VERSION INFO THREAD - v2.08.01 - Oct 08, 2006

« Last post by mouser on January 20, 2007, 11:12 PM »

good point nudone - looks like PT needs a new icon.

27908

General Software Discussion / Re: Scripting vs. Programming

« Last post by mouser on January 20, 2007, 02:47 PM »

another way to think about things like this:
if you tell a master coder, write me something quick that reads in a file and writes it out again with some text replacements.  good solution is open up your text editor or ide and write a quick and dirty perl or python script.  speed and memory not important.

now you tell the coder they have to design some code for a mission critical piece of hardware, that has to operate millions of database calls a minute, with very tight and exact memory limits, where everything is going to have to work perfectly together, and the coder is going to have to know where every cpu cycle is going, and be able to reduce memory usage to a minimum and account for every byte of ram.  Well now you are talking about a c/c++ task, and you'd be a fool to use a scripting language for that.  You simply don't have the fine grain level of control that you need.

27909

General Software Discussion / Re: Scripting vs. Programming

« Last post by mouser on January 20, 2007, 02:40 PM »

well f0dder you might be technically correct that in 2007,

Also, compiled doesn't necessarily mean "machine code" - think java, dotNET, perl/parrot et cetera.
Scripting languages can be compiled rather than interpreted, and traditional compiled languages can be interpreted as well (though not very fun for something like C++).

but i think the general flavor of the concepts, and the historical background is that when you talk about compiled, you are really implying that a substantial amount of work and a dedicated step is taking place to convert the code to a very highly optimized (usually machine code or close) version.  modern languages are blurring that a bit, but thats the point.

now there have always been interpretted programming languages.  and today's autohotkey "scripting language" is more powerful that the original hardcore full on programming languages so things get a bit confusing.

but when you say a scripting language you usually mean an interpreted thing (or something that "feels" interpreted, ie instantly runnable) that can be written and tested and run with very little turn around. in general i think people talk about a "scripting language" solution to a problem as a kind of quick and dirty solution, in a language that is much more forgiving and tends to be aimed more torwards experimenting and instant feedback, and where runtime speed and memory usage is not critical, vs the idea of getting together a team for a month with UML diagrams to plan out the objects, classes, and data structures.

27910

N.A.N.Y. Challenge 2007 / Re: Crocus Contacts

« Last post by mouser on January 20, 2007, 02:32 PM »

nice.
adding built in backup facilities to a program always is a great idea.

27911

General Software Discussion / Re: Scripting vs. Programming

« Last post by mouser on January 20, 2007, 11:09 AM »

Scripting is a method for which a script or program runs through an interpreter at the time the functionality of the program is requested.  This is what converts a set of instructions to something a computer can actually perform.

Never heard the term used in that way.. I think you meant to say "Interpretting."
Interpretting is when the interpreter executes the script.

The only use of the term "scripting" I am familiar with refers to the human process of writing scripts.

27912

Post New Requests Here / Re: IDEA: application independant status tray icon

« Last post by mouser on January 20, 2007, 10:04 AM »

Here is what I was writing but before i could post it jgp came up with a better solution 

This is actually a great idea for a tiny little generic program.
May I suggest a program named GenericTrayIconDisplayer.exe which runs in the tray.
Ideally written in something lightweight and efficient but could be done with anything.
It has only one job, which is to listen for a Windows Message Broadcast telling it what Icon File to load and display.

So that you would run this tool, and it just sits there until some other program or script broadcasts a message to it saying "Go load C:\myicon1.ico", at which point it loads it.

27913

General Software Discussion / Request for Suggestions: Web-based (PHP) Help Desk / FAQ / Feedback Scripts

« Last post by mouser on January 20, 2007, 09:47 AM »

Ok Anderson (aka Mobysaurus) and I have been trying to figure out ways to make it easier for people to find help and request help on the site, and we've finally decided that I should install a serious Web-based (PHP) Help Desk / FAQ / Feedback Script/Software on the DC server, (preferably open source).

It should be one of those kinds that has a series of combo boxes that "drills" down to the subject the user wants help on, and which the user can very quickly submit a question.  It should not require the user to sign up, etc.  And it should be in PHP since thats the web-language i'm most comfortable with.

Does anyone have any suggestions or feel like going hunting and testing?  If so please add your thoughts here.  We will do the same as we go looking.

27914

Developer's Corner / Re: How long should a software time trial be?

« Last post by mouser on January 20, 2007, 09:03 AM »

any s/w that is coded by any DC member and posted on DC will be under the DC policy?

No.

Unless you have talked to me and we've explicitly agreed that your software is now part of official DonationCoder software collection which must be guaranteed to be free for any supporting member of DC for life, then you are under no obligations of any sort wrt to DC and DC policies.

Just because someone on the DC forum writes software and posts it here or uploads it doesn't mean DC has any rights to it - we don't.  It's your software.  You wrote it, you decide how it's distributed etc.

We want coders to feel at home here and free to talk and play and share there work - we don't want to own it or restrict it.  Obviously many of us here have strong feelings about donationware and freeware and stuff like that, so you're not going to find a very receptive audience if your main interest here is about how you can milk the most amount of money out of your "customers".  Although we occasionally talk about the business end of software, it's certainly not the main focus of this site, and it never will be - there are other sites better suited for that.

Now when we have something like a NANY challenge we ask people to post software that is free.  If you want to charge for it later or future versions, thats up to you.  When we do a programming contest, the programs you submit are going to be free for anyone to download and use.  Whatever you do with it beyond that is up to you.  It's your software we just ask that the free copy you made for the contest be made available to everyone for free.  We promise not to ever try to charge for it or restrict its use.  We're happy to take care of bandwidth and hosting etc.

Lastly,
We frequenly offer some free web space for freeware/donationware coders, just as a thank you for their contribution to software scene.  It's not an amazing thing - it's just a site at like USERNAME.dcmembers.com.  And the condition is that you not abuse the space and not use it to SELL shareware, but only for freeware and donationware.  But other than that, the space is yours.  That also is *NOT* official donationcoder software - it's your software and web space to handle as you wish.  You have no obligations to use other than to not abuse the offer of space.

[ We occasionally have someone like Anderson (Mobysaurus) who works on something of very high quality and who is so close in spirit to the site that we both agree to make it part of the official DonationCoder software collection, and use the DC license key system, etc.  Youll see those programs on the official DC Software page:  https://www.donation.../Software/index.html ]

To summarize all that:
Your software is your own to do whatever you want with it.  We're happy to help you with any hosting and web space you need, until it becomes a commercial product at which point we will be very happy for you but expect you to find your own hosting.

27915

Official Announcements / Re: THE N.A.N.Y. CHALLENGE 2007 - New Apps For the New Year - PROGRAMS ARE UP!

« Last post by mouser on January 20, 2007, 08:11 AM »

Thanks for sticking with it Don, and welcome to the site.
Yeah we do need to streamline and simplify stuff, there is no doubt about it.

27916

Developer's Corner / Re: How long should a software time trial be?

« Last post by mouser on January 20, 2007, 05:46 AM »

Glad you asked the last question, I wanted to say something about that.

My comments about "DC Software" was only meant to refer to software that we consider *OFFICIAL* site software, and it is not in any way meant to say that we would impose any requirements on the individual programmers who hang out here.

There are plenty of pure traditional shareware/freelance/commercial software developers who frequent DC and I don't in any way meant to be criticizing or trying to influence their policies.  Different things work for different people, who have different aims, and we welcome everyone who isn't being evil.

Now you'll probably notice on this site that we tend to go an extra mile in terms of bringing attention to freeware/donationware we find on the web.  I think that matches our general approach here which is much more focused on bringing attention to the donationware approach and trying to help donationware authors get attention and help, since it's an unusual approach and much harder to succeed at it.

My standard advice to anyone who wants to make money on software to forget about donationware.  You just cannot (yet?) make good money on this approach in today's society.  Read my article for a lengthier discussion about why it might still be the right approach for you, if maximizing revenue is not your primary goal.

But to get back to your question: All developers are welcome on this site, and we have no intention of trying to influence anyone's decision about selling, pricing, etc.  We will have rules for any software that is part of the *official* DonationCoder software collection, because our policy is that when someone donates to DC they are currently guarunteed a lifetime license to all future versions of this *official* software collection.  But this has no bearing on any of the software written by individual users on this forum, even if the program was written as part of a request or discussion here.

We have no interest in any rights or controls over any code that people here write, we just want to be a fun place to hang out and talk about shareware - and we'd love to see you as a developer succeed, in whatever particular path of business you choose (though you can bet that most of us here will be rooting for you to choose an ethical and moral approach to your business, which takes into consideration some of the principles we think are important in terms of being good internet citizens).

27917

Developer's Corner / Re: How long should a software time trial be?

« Last post by mouser on January 20, 2007, 04:51 AM »

ps.
For more info on DC perspective on some of this stuff, see my article from last year:
"When Do Users Donate? Experiments with Donationware: Ethical Software, Work Equalization, Temporary Licenses, Collective Bargaining, and Microdonations"
https://www.donation...icles/One/index.html

27918

Developer's Corner / Re: How long should a software time trial be?

« Last post by mouser on January 20, 2007, 04:46 AM »

Getting back to something mentioned earlier.. I have actually considered using this AND ONLY THIS on dc as a way to differentiate people using free versions vs. supporting member donations:

TitleBar reminder

That is, I wonder if the DC policy could be simplified and be "enough" of an incentive if we simply had a "please donate" titlebar text, and no other limits or expirations, etc.  I'm not sure.  Im also not sure if the non-donators would find that too obnoxious even though all features would work without any popup nags or expiration.


Important note: I do not consider the aim of DC to be completely in line with this article or discussion about "maximizing" conversion to paying customers.  Our goal here is much more balanced - we aren't looking for policies that strictly maximize profits.  That's not to say the finances are unimportant to us - not at all.  We are very interested in figuring out policies that encourage generous donations from people who can afford them, but we are much more concerned with not excluding users than a standard business is, and we are much more concerned with figuring out a way for people to pay what they think a program is worth and not any more.  But with those caveats, the issues are still relevant for the software made on DC and so I am keenly interested in hearing people's views on these issues.  I think as a business person you also have to ask yourself if you really want money from customers who aren't happy.  There are plenty of businesses in this world that are based on making money from people who are unhappy with what you do but feel like they have no choice or made a mistake and have to live with their mistake.  Speaking personally I don't want to be involved in such a business.

27919

Developer's Corner / Re: How long should a software time trial be?

« Last post by mouser on January 20, 2007, 04:40 AM »

Let me suggest that one assumption you made is probably wrong (in my experience).

This part is exactly right:

looked at the 100% anytime option, but didn't choose it because I thought that it lacked a potential for "weeding out" uncommitted customers.  What I mean by "uncommitted" are those people that are just toying with "some new thing" and if your site/product happens to be on their screen, "it's time to play!"  They will d/l it and install. Yes, there is certainty that a percentage of these will be real customers, but a very, very small percentage.

''

By far most of the people who download your software wont keep it.

But you have to realize that these people won't be buying it and asking for a refund - they won't be buying it at all.

Very very few people will go forward with a full purchase of a low-priced software program and then bother to ask for a refund.  By the time they get to the purchase point they are almost certainly going to keep it.

And again even if your refund makes it more likely that some people who are not quite as committed will make a purchase and then change your mind - it is hard to imagine (for shareware) a case where that increased ease of buying+refunding doesnt work in your favor.  For every "uncomitted" person who is tempted into buying it because of your generous refund policy, and then returns it, 10 more fence sitters who end up satisfied will bite the bullet and be willing to make a purchase because of the extra security they feel in ordering something that they know they can return and that you stand behind.  Just my 2 cents.

27920

LaunchBar Commander / Re: Folder names ?

« Last post by mouser on January 20, 2007, 03:51 AM »

Select the Dock node, and look for the "Caption Details" configuration group box; there you can choose your caption style.

27921

Developer's Corner / Re: How long should a software time trial be?

« Last post by mouser on January 20, 2007, 02:42 AM »

keep in mind i have no real experience selling shareware so i am not the right person to ask.
and it's going to depend on the price of your product.  if you are selling a $1000 program, then you are going to get some refund requests by people who use it and no longer need it and can use the money.  I think as soon as you dip down below $100 or so, we're talking in the 1-3% range.  Then ask yourself how many new happy and safe-feeling customers you will gain who buy because they know they are not at risk if they change their mind.

this might be a nice blog author to ask questions about refund request rates, about a small shareware business:
http://microisvjournal.wordpress.com/

27922

Post New Requests Here / Re: Netlocker

« Last post by mouser on January 20, 2007, 02:36 AM »

This exact request came up before and the suggestion was to install one of the firewalls with a quick BLOCKALL switch.
Zone Alarm has it, so does Outpost Agnitum.  Others too probably.  I think thats the easiest and best approach.

Maybe someone can find that old thread?

27923

Post New Requests Here / Re: Idea: Place randomly selected quotes in a specific box on a web page

« Last post by mouser on January 20, 2007, 02:24 AM »

I wrote php code to do this - and there are other scripts as well for it.
As I am going to be revamping this code in the next couple of weeks to include random screenshots and other stuff, let me revisit this issue in february and share what i've written.  in the meantime please post what you find on your own and remind me again in february.

27924

Developer's Corner / Re: How long should a software time trial be?

« Last post by mouser on January 20, 2007, 02:22 AM »

Good comments all.
Personall I am very in favor of the 100% money back no questions asked refunds - I think it makes business sense in addition to being a nice thing for everyone.  I think if you look at it in terms of percentages, as long as you arent in a business with a very high cost product and a high return rate, the increase in security you give to your customers will result in more customers who are more willing to take the plunge to purchase if they aren't worried about having a hard time getting a refund.  So to me, the unlimited no expiration, no questions asks money back guarantee it's a win-win for everyone and makes me feel better too.

27925

LaunchBar Commander / Re: probally already either suggested or on your list

« Last post by mouser on January 19, 2007, 06:03 PM »

it's on my todo list 
I am going to do some work on lbc and my other programs as soon as the very major new release of Find+Run Robot goes out the door in the next week