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8026

JGPaiva's GridMove and Ahk Tools / Re: GridMove needs a new licensing scheme, please help

« Last post by 40hz on March 08, 2011, 10:09 AM »

As owner of the copyright, it's yours to do with as you think best.

Your best bet for a license is a standard proprietary license. There's enough "free for personal use, commercial use restricted" products out there that it shouldn't be too much hassle to grab a half dozen EULAs and use them as models. Since the rules vary by locality, you'll still want to invest in some competent legal advice and review before you 'go live' with it. Possibly someone at DC has already done this so you could just use their vetted license.

Also check for software industry organizations in your area or up on the web. Most have identified legal resources you can avail yourself of.

As far as CC goes, I don't think it creates any problems. Just pull it and rerelease with the new license attached. Note: if your product is up on any of those big 'free' software sites, it would be a good (as in really good) idea to send them your updated files and license info. Be sure you up the version number on the software to indicate a change, even if it's only to the license. Better still would be to make some changes, no matter how small, in the binaries  That provides a nice clean demarcation point between the current released software version and those that came before. Very important if you ever need to try to legally enforce your license.

Easiest right now would be to send an email to the CC people. Explain what you plan to do, and ask if they see any problems with it.  If you don't like the answer you get, you can always seek another opinion since their word isn't law.

Luck!

P.S. If you're developing for the Windows platform, don't neglect to check out Microsoft's BizSpark program. Link here. it's a great program if you're a new commercial developer. One of the very few "smart move" bargains out there. Possibly the best thing Microsoft ever came up with for its developers.

StackOverflow   had a fairly decent write-up about it here
 

8027

General Software Discussion / Re: 20 New User Misconceptions about Linux

« Last post by 40hz on March 08, 2011, 09:27 AM »

Like zridling, I haven't run into any showstopper issues with 64-bit distros for quite a while now. But I stay fairly mainstream with what I install. And I'm also slightly behind the most recent curve for hardware. So finding drivers or workarounds usually isn't a problem because of it.

Guess it all depends on each person's setup.


re: the state of X

Agree. Development efforts  are currently going through a bad patch. I'm optimistic however. They've been through this before. Eventually, they'll either get it all worked out, or fork (again) - and may the best approach win.  

And if not, X will go the way of all flesh, and something else will come along to replace it. "No tears in heaven" as Eric said.

Right now, it looks like it's just another change in the weather - and one more squall to ride out.  

-------

@iphigenie - Hi! Nice to see your moniker gracing the forum again. It's been a while. 
  

8028

Living Room / Re: Technical Excuses for Porn (Safe For Work)

« Last post by 40hz on March 08, 2011, 08:58 AM »

Nice to see something that helps disrupt the Scandinavian "blond" stereotype.

Lovely woman. Quite.

 

8029

General Software Discussion / Re: What the hell is OpenCandy?

« Last post by 40hz on March 08, 2011, 08:11 AM »

Just out of curiosity: are you going to state right up front on your download and product info pages that it contains OpenCandy, identify it as an adware application, and say that if you don't want to install it you'll need to explicitly tell it not to? and that tracking software may remain on their machine even if they later "uninstall" it.

Or are you going to let them find out about it after they download and start installing like it seems everybody who is including it does?
 
I'm not trying to sound hostile. I've got nothing but respect for you. It's just everybody using OpenCandy seems to almost go out of their way to hide its presence as much as possible from what I've seen. Makes me wonder if there's something in OC's license or in some policy or recommendation that suggests or requires a 'stealth' approach. 

8030

Living Room / Re: Win 7 XP mode

« Last post by 40hz on March 08, 2011, 07:22 AM »

(*): when lawyers are involved, I'd prefer gunpoint to standpoint.

-f0dder (March 08, 2011, 04:58 AM)

 

...I gotta write that one down!  

-Stoic Joker (March 08, 2011, 06:37 AM)

  +1

Let the others "talk peace." f0dder prefers to let his "piece" do the talkin'
 

8031

Developer's Corner / Re: Thank You For Treating Everyone Like a Criminal, Apple

« Last post by 40hz on March 08, 2011, 06:47 AM »

Once the older demographic becomes the main market it can only get less and less popular with the younger market (I'm in my 50s and still don't want to look like a granny drooling over a white box).

-Carol Haynes (March 08, 2011, 03:15 AM)

    Under the spreading chestnut apple tree
    I sold you and you sold me—


In a way it's kind of funny how Apple portrays itself as being so hip when you consider how they lock down their interface and systems to the point of where they would be safe enough for even a 'locked ward' resident to use.

Maybe 1984 didn't turn out to be like "like 1984." But 2011 easily could if Apple had it's way.

Like Orwell said: WAR IS PEACE - FREEDOM IS SLAVERY - IGNORANCE IS STRENGTH

Hmm...sure sounds like a business plan to me! (Or an Apple sponsored user event if you've ever seen the crowd's reaction to even the most outrageous statement or claim being made on Apple's behalf. It gets seriously creepy at times...)

Cupertino Prevails!

8032

Developer's Corner / Re: Discussion of CMS suggestions for the DC software directory

« Last post by 40hz on March 07, 2011, 06:51 PM »

^There ya go! One team.

Thanks April.

8033

Developer's Corner / Re: Discussion of CMS suggestions for the DC software directory

« Last post by 40hz on March 07, 2011, 05:48 PM »

I'm not sure about this, but I'll just call to your attention that it'd be nice if this software repository could include not only full apps, but also coding snacks and even code samples. It should be easy to upload any of the three, but we can't really expect small coding snacks or code samples to include screenshots and stuff like that. Truth is even though skwire has been doing a great job posting coding snacks that look like full apps, for me it's a pain to create icons and screenshots and etc.

-jgpaiva (March 07, 2011, 06:30 AM)

I'm sure there would be members more than willing to help you with some of that if you'd like. Not every member who would like to get involved is a coder. But they may have other skills and talents (art, writing, alpha/beta testing) that could add value to the work of the programmers. For example, many FSF projects benefit immensely from people who are willing write documentation, design interfaces, and do all those other tasks the average programmer has little interest in doing, but which still need to be done.

Why not assemble a small team to assist you when and as needed?

Just a thought.  

8034

General Software Discussion / Re: Upgrading Windows: From DOS 5.0 to Windows 7

« Last post by 40hz on March 07, 2011, 07:31 AM »

Pretty impressive (Can your linux do this?)

-Josh (March 03, 2011, 06:33 PM)

Pretty much. And at zero cost to the person doing the upgrades. What are we looking at here? Something like $500-$600 to go from DOS 5 to Win7? (Assuming, of course, you weren't bootlegging your copy of everything up to pre-WGA Windows 2000?   )

FWIW you can update approximately 95% of what's on virtually any Linux installation without needing to reboot. The remaining 5% (mostly kernal updates) may soon not require a reboot either thanks to ksplice and a few other projects that are looking to remove that too.

It's also worth noting that Linux, in general, is starting to move away from the notion of versions, opting for a rolling release model.

Microsoft is too. But they're thinking more along the lines of cloud-based services and applications which will be sold by annual subscription.

If all goes according to plan, it will eventually turn the PC into a smart terminal with subscribed access to a remote application and data server. (Kinda hauls us right back to 1960 (with IBM/Honeywell/Sperry Rand) except now we have the web - doesn't it?  )

Either way, that video was very cool. Brings back some fond memories (Win2K Pro ) and some painful ones (ME - whatever where they thinking?). Glad I didn't have to see that headache again. I still get nightmares. Surprised he didn't do WFWG however, since that was the Win3 most "smart money" went with.

ANyway...Great find! Thx for sharing it.

8035

General Software Discussion / Re: 20 New User Misconceptions about Linux

« Last post by 40hz on March 07, 2011, 06:54 AM »

I'm guessing it's mostly games that are what makes it more complex? 

8036

Developer's Corner / Re: Discussion of CMS suggestions for the DC software directory

« Last post by 40hz on March 06, 2011, 03:53 PM »

I can finally see your new avatar

-JavaJones (March 06, 2011, 03:33 PM)

Yeah, me too! It's there to remind me to give it a rest every once in a while.  

-40hz (March 06, 2011, 03:39 PM)

Yeah, you know what they say: 39 may be uncomfortable, but 40hz

-timns (March 06, 2011, 03:46 PM)

OMG! Crainioscopical has competition. We're doomed...

NSFW

Agree. But I think your first variable might be off by 30.  

8037

Developer's Corner / Re: Discussion of CMS suggestions for the DC software directory

« Last post by 40hz on March 06, 2011, 03:39 PM »

I can finally see your new avatar

-JavaJones (March 06, 2011, 03:33 PM)

Yeah, me too! It's there to remind me to give it a rest every once in a while. 

8038

Developer's Corner / Re: Discussion of CMS suggestions for the DC software directory

« Last post by 40hz on March 06, 2011, 03:16 PM »

Might also not be a bad idea to initiate some dialog with the DC's software authors and get a feel for what they think about all this since it may change how things currently work for them.

With the additional exposure a directory may bring, some of the old "publish & forget" days may be coming to an end. Since most of them do this for free and in their spare time, it may get to be a "job" staying on top of the comments. Especially if a title gets popular due to wider exposure and generates a lot of feedback asking for responses from the author.

 

8039

Developer's Corner / Re: Discussion of CMS suggestions for the DC software directory

« Last post by 40hz on March 06, 2011, 01:54 PM »

I think by going with a moderator/curated type approach you have the best chance of avoiding redundant information spread over several areas of DC.

I'd suggest that any comments/discussions/announcements/bug reports for any software in the directory also be moved over to whatever system (blog?) is being used for the directory. That would gather all relevant info under the actual software titles, which should make the directory a much more focused and relevant resource.

For continuity in the main forum, you could leave the existing structure in place, but include a polite note under each title that says all info and discussions for 'XYZ' have been moved over to the new software directory - and provide links to go there. Might not be a bad idea to lockout new entries being made to the old forum area by people that choose to ignore the notice.

Agree too on the recommendations for using PAD files. They not only provide a standardized info format, they're usable by many other software sites that might also be interested in listing a DC member's creation. That could help gain some additional exposure for DC by making its software collection more visible to search engines by virtue of being listed on other sites.

Just another  

8040

Living Room / Re: Win 7 XP mode

« Last post by 40hz on March 06, 2011, 07:37 AM »

It might be simpler to find him another game to get hooked on ...

-Carol Haynes (March 06, 2011, 05:10 AM)

@Carol- I believe you've come up with the most elegant solution of all. Brilliant!

8041

Living Room / Re: Are *you* Computer Literate?

« Last post by 40hz on March 05, 2011, 02:01 PM »

Hm... No.

USB was created to allow…

-Stoic Joker (March 05, 2011, 12:44 PM)

Much better 

-cranioscopical (March 05, 2011, 01:23 PM)

 

Right up there with virtual machines, which are:

A piece of software engineering which allows you to experience hard system crashes in numbers greater than what your actual hardware would otherwise allow.

8042

Living Room / Re: Win 7 XP mode

« Last post by 40hz on March 05, 2011, 01:49 PM »

...

Thing is, if I try to download from Microsoft, it wants me to do a WGA thing. And I can't run the download on a machine that has an acceptable version of WIndows 7, as my netbook is Starter edition (dual-booting with Ubuntu!) and my desktop is Vista.

There must be a way to download it some way that doesn't require the download to happen on the machine it's to be installed on, but I can't find anything useful out. Anyone got any helpful suggestions? (I expect I've missed something obvious somewhere, but hey, I'm old and grumpy and entitled to make the occasional small mistake!)  

-oblivion (March 05, 2011, 11:20 AM)

Sorry.  f0dder is correct. "Them's the rules."

Trying to get around Microsoft's WGA requirement is seldom successful; and is generally more trouble than it's worth even when possible.

It's also generally not a good idea to try and circumvent Microsoft's recommended way of installing system software unless you really know what you're doing. Otherwise, you're opening yourself up for all kinds of grief. Especially if it isn't your machine.

I'd really try doing an overnight download from their machine if at all possible. Even carting their PC back to your place and doing the download and installation from there would be a wiser move.

If you still insist on trying it "manually" (as in not recommended) then the MajorGeeks website has a link to an XP Mode file. Look here. Date on this file is 02-19-2010, so it might not be the most recent or correct version to use. Note: you'll also need to download the Virtual PC installer in order to use this file.

My recommendation? Don't do it that way...

 

8043

Mini-Reviews by Members / Re: [First look] Scrivener Beta 017 - Mini-Review

« Last post by 40hz on March 05, 2011, 12:43 PM »

Very nice review tomos.   and +1 w/Crainioscopical on the style you used.

Also wanted to say (now that I've had more experience with Scrivener) that I agree with you that my earlier comparison of it to Storybook isn't all that accurate.

While there are functional similarities between the two programs, the underlying "vibe" and workflow is quite different. Storybook has a definite approach in mind. Scrivener is more easygoing and less "in your face." Storybook challenges you to buckle down. Scrivener invites you to play.

I haven't tried the NIX version yet. But I intend to since multi-platform is a major plus for me and anyone else who straddles two or more operating systems.

Very cool app with a lot to like - and some serious under-the-hood power. With luck, this just might be the one app I can eventually standardize on for all my writing tasks. If it weren't for Scrivener still being in beta, I might have done so already.
 

8044

General Software Discussion / Re: 20 New User Misconceptions about Linux

« Last post by 40hz on March 04, 2011, 10:21 PM »

hiring expensive linux consultants

-f0dder (March 04, 2011, 06:14 PM)

Wot? I do most of my Linux 'consulting' gratis. I didn't know we were allowed to be expensive consultants!

Hmmm...thanks for the tip f0dder.

 

8045

Living Room / Re: When you make your 100'th Post

« Last post by 40hz on March 04, 2011, 06:03 PM »

Saw this and couldn't help thinking it just might be how the FSF/FOSS development model looks to a guy like f0dder.  




 

--------------

@f0dder - Bravo on reaching 7.5K posts. Awesome!

8046

fSekrit / Re: 2011 status report

« Last post by 40hz on March 04, 2011, 03:00 PM »

One question: Why open source it? If you're going to be the sole coder and maintainer why bother to go that route with all the aggravation the 'open thing' so often brings with it?
 

8047

Living Room / Re: A Point About Grammar

« Last post by 40hz on March 04, 2011, 02:51 PM »

Save-the-Jewels erm..Marbles Therapy, huh?

Ok...I'll give it a try. Can't be to careful when it comes to issues of health.

However, I'll pass on the Martinis if you don't mind.

Make mine Stout, Bock (hey, ya gotta eat too!), or a nice microbrewed Dark Ale.

As long as it's dark and complex - and looks like there's a good chance some "pond life" lurking in it -  I'm in!

8048

Living Room / Re: The March 2011 6th Anniversary Fundraiser Has Begun! Cheer for Victory Thread

« Last post by 40hz on March 04, 2011, 02:39 PM »

Wow!

Three days + 15.5 hours into it and you're almost at goal!

I've never seen anything like that for site like this one. Tells you something doesn't it?

(NPR & PBS could learn something here.  )

 

8049

General Software Discussion / Re: Temporary Toggled Port Blocking

« Last post by 40hz on March 04, 2011, 10:17 AM »

There used to be a utility called GameMode that did something close to what you're looking for. (We used to occasionally use it as a safe boot alternative.) Last I looked you could still get it from CNET's download section on their website. Don't know if the programmers ever updated or got it to work with Win7 however. If you're on XP it might be worth a look.
 

8050

Developer's Corner / Re: Discussion of CMS suggestions for the DC software directory

« Last post by 40hz on March 04, 2011, 09:59 AM »

To Mouser's point about a coherent solution, perhaps it would be beneficial to get some better understanding of what the goal(s) of having this directory is/are first? Because it starts sounding a little vague once we get beyond what looks to be unanimous agreement that it's a great idea and we want to do it.

So if this discussion is meant to be anything other than a general brainstorming session, maybe we really need to take a small and short step back.

It would be very helpful if Mouser, and/or those who make up DC's equivalent of a steering committee (if there is something like that for DC ) could help by clarifying what "The Big Win" would be for this project?

Once that's done it becomes much easier to talk shop, debate platforms, and decide which people are best able to make it all happen.

The reason I mention any of this is because the only time (ok, four times ) I've ever had a project fail on me was when I went into one without a clear set of goals and a definition of what would constitute a successful completion.
  

Just my two and thinking out loud.