Recent Posts

8201

General Software Discussion / Re: What does it mean when I say "successful freeware"?

« Last post by 40hz on February 14, 2011, 09:44 AM »

[EDIT: I guess i also have a quibble with the second part of this: "If you want to get paid - say so. And require it. "
I believe strongly in the concept of encouraging voluntary payments for digital goods (e.g. Donationware).

-mouser (February 14, 2011, 07:58 AM)

I really want to believe strongly in the donation concept too. I think it's a marvellous idea that speaks to all that's best in people.  

I'm just curious about how well it works practice.

Because while it seems to be working very well here, I'm sure most of us would also qualify that by pointing out just how unique (or perhaps totally unique) DC is. If you don't believe it, just look at the results of the last fundraiser. I've never known any fund drive that got double their target before I saw it happen here.

But websites are websites and software is software. So I'm also curious how donations made to a website compare to donations made to software authors. Without meaning to pry (so no specifics please) is there anybody, whose portfolio of software is earning a them even a modest wage purely from donations? By wage I mean it would be equivalent to what you might earn from an unskilled part-time job.

Please somebody say "yes."

You have no idea how much I want to believe this concept can work.

8202

General Software Discussion / Re: What does it mean when I say "successful freeware"?

« Last post by 40hz on February 14, 2011, 09:16 AM »

Oh darn, I'm probably going to anger lots of you here but to hell with it: I'm feeling talkative.

Back then, wasn't freeware perceived as crapware?

...and before you guys think this is off-topic or deliberately flammatory, I think it's worth looking at it through those lenses because one could say freeware has evolved a long way and thus it brings up the concept of success as not just being a situational criteria but a generational one too.

-Paul Keith (February 14, 2011, 08:27 AM)

Not as far as my memory serves.

There was quite a bit of professional and bloody useful freeware out back then. Most of the bulletin board world (harbingers of today's web) ran on freeware.

Indeed, it was almost a truism back then that freeware and shareware offerings were far better choices than their commercial counterparts - when there even were commercial counterparts. 

8203

General Software Discussion / Re: What does it mean when I say "successful freeware"?

« Last post by 40hz on February 14, 2011, 08:48 AM »

It seems like there's a tone in this thread that if you try to write software and give it away for free but still make some money somewhere along the line, then you're doing something wrong or scummy.

-Renegade (February 14, 2011, 07:59 AM)

Not AFAIC. Freeware (by my definition) is either motivated by utter altruism or it's somebody's hobby.

I've got nothing against anybody for wanting (or more likely needing) to make money off their work. I'm a network integrator/troubleshooter. I make my coin by knowing something my client doesn't - and not telling them what I know for free. Far be it from me to criticize the person who spent 200+ hours of his or her life creating a piece of software with the hopes it would return something for their efforts.

But by the same token, I don't do my thing without making it very clear up front that I don't (ok, more like can't) provide my services at no charge. If I offered to do something "for free," and then started dropping hints I expected something after the fact, the person I was dealing with would likely feel I was being less than honest with them.

Why should software be any different?

So what about "get acquainted" service offers or working "on spec"?

Nobody in their right mind that works in my profession offers either. It's the sign of an amateur. Or somebody who's so desperate they're no longer thinking about what it takes to run a business. And it also gets the relationship off on the wrong foot by introducing a logical inconsistency into the marketing of the service.

If something is free today, why should it cost something tomorrow? And even though it may sound illogical, that question WILL come up sooner or later. Usually right after you bill for anything you ever once did for free.

Now, do I ever provide my services for free?

Yes. At Linux install fests, helping seniors to use computer technology at our local Senior Center, donating time and equipment to worthy causes, offering career and technology mentoring to school kids, participating in forums and tech discussions, helping friends and family cope with their computer woes...in short, you can get me "for free" in many places...

Just not where I work.

8204

General Software Discussion / Re: What does it mean when I say "successful freeware"?

« Last post by 40hz on February 14, 2011, 08:16 AM »

The only tiny quibble i might have is the advice to stop calling software offered for a motive "freeware". There are very heated debates about the term freeware, and my general feeling is that motivation is not a good way to determine whether something is freeware or not.  My personal view is that it really comes down to whether you are offering something fully functional that can be used permanently without "punishment", financial cost, or undue annoyance, like being forced to endure ads or similar unwanted things).

-mouser (February 14, 2011, 07:58 AM)

I see your point. Much of my feelings and beliefs date back to when there were basicslly three types of software: commercial, shareware, and freeware.

Back then, the term freeware was unambiguous. It was free. Period. End of script.

Over the years, the term got co-opted and polluted by various word games so that today it's become largely meaningless. Much like the word "green" when referring to environmentally friendly.

So if I come across as being a dilettante with my somewhat narrow and precise definition of freeware, I apologize. Chalk it up to someone who's become increasingly angered by the (largely successful) attempts to poison the free/open software movement's well by a conscious effort to make its terms and definitions meaningless.

My thought was it's one thing for money interests to be muddying the waters. (Pigs prefer mud anyway.) But as programmers, computer professionals, and technology enthusiasts, we here at DC didn't need to allow ourselves to get sucked into that game.

Again, just my 2¢. (Which must be getting up to a dime by now on this topic.  )

8205

General Software Discussion / Re: What does it mean when I say "successful freeware"?

« Last post by 40hz on February 14, 2011, 07:50 AM »

I always thought it was obvious...

The U.S. Marine Corps have a rule of thumb for how to give instruction.

In the immortal (and likely apocryphal) words of the boot camp Drill Instructor:

- First ya tells 'em what yer gonna tell 'em.

- Then ya tells 'em.

- Then ya tells 'em what ya just told 'em.

Must work. Some of those "jarheads" learn how to fly jet planes.  

8206

General Software Discussion / Re: What does it mean when I say "successful freeware"?

« Last post by 40hz on February 14, 2011, 07:34 AM »

I'm getting discouraged... It seems like everybody expects to get paid for everything...

Except for software...

-Renegade (February 14, 2011, 07:19 AM)

More like many people expect to have to pay for everything except software...

and music...

and movies...

and books...

and...pretty much anything that can be distributed electronically.

Hmmm...

Do we detect a pattern here?

-////

Note: I find it amusingly ironic that many people of my acquaintance, who code and bewail how often their work gets "appropriated", are among the most militant advocates of downloading the licensed creative works of others off torrent sites. Must be like what my three year old niece says: But That's Different!

8207

General Software Discussion / Re: What does it mean when I say "successful freeware"?

« Last post by 40hz on February 14, 2011, 07:29 AM »

I made 6 freeware apps in the last 4 years. None of them is a financial success.

-vlastimil (February 14, 2011, 06:37 AM)

Does anybody else see the problem here?

There's a difference between freeware and software that's being given away for free but with an agenda or motive behind it.

That's why it's important to insist on the distinction. Otherwise, the end-user feels they're being set-up; and the programmer feels resentful and unappreciated.

If you really want to give something away for free, then just give it away.

If you hope or expect to get something back in return, then be precise and upfront about it. And also stop calling your program 'freeware.'

Interestingly, some software companies are starting to understand this. I was on one site a while ago that had a short Q&A on the product's landing page.  In answer to the question "Why are you giving this away for free?" They came right out and said it was being given away with the hopes that you'd find it so useful you'd be motivated to check out (and hopefully buy) the enhanced version, or one of their other fine products.

They also went on to say they understood that their freebie might be all you ever needed BUT if you decided not to purchase anything, could you at least help them improve the product by providing feedback in the form of bug reports or suggestions for new features.

Lastly, they asked that you tell others about them if you found their products useful either by telling friends or writing a review.

See the difference?

I walked away very much liking these people because they were refreshingly honest about why they were offering a no-charge version of their product in return for my consideration of making a purchase, providing them with my feedback and suggestions, and helping them with word of mouth advertising.

Notice how they actually asked for a lot more than just money, but still managed not to be offensive or appear manipulative?

Contrast that with the occasional self-righteous and slightly hurt tone some developers adopt to shame somebody into paying for something they were told was supposed to be free.

If you want to get paid - say so. And require it.

If you're offering something at no charge - say so. And be up front about why.

You'll discover people will respect you for that (and possibly go along with what you want) far more readily than they'll allow you to shame or otherwise coerce them into doing something.

It's a simple matter of being honest.

Always the best policy with yourself and others. 

8208

General Software Discussion / Re: What does it mean when I say "successful freeware"?

« Last post by 40hz on February 13, 2011, 09:48 PM »

Of course the problem with this definition is that it sounds more like it's about open source software specifically. Most freeware developers may not consider their software as "releases".

-Paul Keith (February 13, 2011, 08:45 PM)

Free software has nothing intrinsically to do with open source software. Open source refers to the philosophy and practice of making source code available. Open source software may be licensed in a variety of ways including proprietary restricted. It can also be fully protected by patent or copyright. And just because source code might be available doesn't mean you can obtain a copy at no charge. There are several open source products that you need to buy in order to use in any capacity.

Repeat 10 times: open source is not a synonym for free.

---

By "released" I meant exactly what the dictionary definition means by "release" when it's used as a verb.  I'm not using the word in the software industry sense as a noun. Try not to read too much into it. If you'd prefer a different word, feel free to substitute. 

Also problematic in that there are "free for personal use" freeware and "free for free" freeware "but get me famous/ego building" and finally the ever famous "free for free but only so I can get popular and sell you my new boosted program" freeware.

-Paul Keith (February 13, 2011, 08:45 PM)

Not at all problematic AFAIC. 

From my perspective, those are examples of misusing the term "freeware." If there's a condition attached, it ain't free. Nor is it "no cost" since the attached condition represents a cost. It's "no charge," which means absolutely nothing other than no money was exchanged.

I'd prefer to say "This software is licensed at no-charge for personal use only."

The second example (free for free but...) isn't freeware either. It's a business marketing strategy. As such it's really more an advert or come-on. The fact it incorporates a piece of software is wholly incidental since its real function is to be a sales tool which gets you to buy something. In this respect, it's no different than offering a "free" t-shirt or product sample.

And...I'm gonna have to leave it here for a while. Just got a server alert that needs attending. Let's call it for now and pick up on the rest of your points later. Apologies. 

8209

General Software Discussion / Re: What does it mean when I say "successful freeware"?

« Last post by 40hz on February 13, 2011, 07:31 PM »

I think it ultimately depends on what your motives are when you release your creation as freeware. That and whether you primarily look inward, or outward, for personal validation.

To my way of thinking, something that is truly freeware was created for no reason other than the satisfaction and pleasure of doing it; and was released for no other reason than the desire to get it out where it could be used.

If it was done for any other purpose or reason, I don't consider it freeware. I see it as a software product that's been licensed for public use at no charge.

A subtle distinction? Perhaps. But it's an important one, since not making this distinction often results in a great deal of confusion for the general public, and significant bitterness and resentment on the part of the software community.

Such faux 'free' software may play a role in a larger agenda.

   Or it may be part of a business strategy.

      But the one thing it's not - is freeware.

         At least not in my book...

So to your question: how do you measure the "success" of a freeware product?

Well...that would be for you (and you alone) to say. Wouldn't it?

8210

Living Room / Re: DC Front Page

« Last post by 40hz on February 13, 2011, 06:46 PM »

I think I'd like anything that didn't make it look so much like a Wordpress blog.

Because right now...it looks just like a blog.  

I also don't think the main landing page should be super big on dynamic items such as lists and tables. The homepage is really more needed for new visitors than it is for regulars. The regulars already know what's here and how to get to it.  With new visitors, it's more important (IMO) to have a predictable and fairly static navigational starting point. Ideally, it should give a quick intro to what the site is about, and provide an overview with clear links which invite the visitor to explore further. Think map rather than dashboard.

Once inside the front door, it can be as dynamic and interactive as deemed appropriate.  

Just my 2¢

8211

Living Room / Re: Can This Journalist Be Replaced by Software and Mechanical Turk?

« Last post by 40hz on February 13, 2011, 06:42 PM »

I find it interesting that the Mechanical Turk is what they decided to call their project. 

If you look into the history of the famous chess playing Mechanical Turk, you'll discover it was one of the biggest hoaxes ever pulled off.

 
 

8212

General Software Discussion / Re: WHS 2011 ("Vail") Release Candidate now available for download.

« Last post by 40hz on February 13, 2011, 02:44 PM »

I'll be keeping my WHS v1.

-skwire (February 13, 2011, 02:31 PM)

That's the the most obvious solution right now.

Especially if you're happily running v1 on 32-bit hardware. 

8213

General Software Discussion / Re: WHS 2011 ("Vail") Release Candidate now available for download.

« Last post by 40hz on February 13, 2011, 02:27 PM »

This just in from gHacks.net:

First Drive Extender Alternatives Are Announced

Windows Home Server administrators surely know about Drive Extender which can be used to combine multiple hard drives into one combined virtual hard drive. This simplifies the accessibility and management of data on the Home Server. A music or video buff with split the collection on multiple drives because of space constraints could use Drive Extender to access all media files under one drive letter.

Microsoft decided to remove Drive Extender from the upcoming Windows Home Server 2011, much to the dismay of many users of which several stated that they would not switch to Windows Home Server 2011 if it would not include Drive Extender.

If Microsoft cannot deliver other companies can.

Link to article here.

So far, this announcement can't offer the bereaved DE widow much more than hope since nothing it reports on is ready for deployment.

The article briefly mentions two products:

One (DriveBender) is due out towards the end of February 2011. Very scant details on this one since the website isn't even providing screenshots despite it's somewhat grandiose announcement:

Drive Bender... coming soon (21st of Feb, 2011*)

Drive Bender is state of the art storage pool technology for Microsoft Windows.

Drive Bender takes single point storage to the next level. Inspired by Microsoft’s "Windows Home Server" Drive Extender technology, Drive Bender is a product that provides the same level of functionality, and more, for all versions of the Microsoft Windows**.

The Feburary release date also leaves me a little skeptical because further down on the page they're still inviting people to participate in the "functional beta."

Wow! Sounds really cool guys! Does your puppy actually work yet or what?  

--

The second product (DrivePool) is currently in alpha testing - as in: don't even think of trying it on anything you rely on or need to keep.

--

So there you have it...

Looks like there's still a way to go before we see something like DriveExtender reappear on WHS2011.

Be interesting to see if either of these products ever make it out of beta. Especially when you consider Microsoft skragged DE because of reliability concerns about the undelying technology.

Figure it this way: if Microsoft couldn't get DE stable - despite all the coding and technical talent it has at its disposal - then just how willing are you to trust a small 3rd-party solution to deliver on the same?

I've decided to give up on DE unless it's released as part of WHS.

Anybody else care to weigh in on this?

 

8214

Official Announcements / Re: March 2011 DonationCoder.com Fundraiser Celebration -- Ideas for Special Events?

« Last post by 40hz on February 13, 2011, 12:23 PM »

^ok. Now I get it.

8215

N.A.N.Y. 2011 / Re: NANY MUGs

« Last post by 40hz on February 13, 2011, 12:02 PM »

You can't even whip it out for a quick photo?

-timns (February 13, 2011, 11:12 AM)

Just another flash in the pantry…

-cranioscopical (February 13, 2011, 11:44 AM)

Or 'panty' if you're talking about the thong. 

8216

Official Announcements / Re: March 2011 DonationCoder.com Fundraiser Celebration -- Ideas for Special Events?

« Last post by 40hz on February 13, 2011, 11:50 AM »

I'm fan of solving real world problems that are bugging others. In this case, why not take coding snack idea to next level and solve some typical problems to raise fund ?

-mahesh2k (February 13, 2011, 11:44 AM)

Wouldn't that fall more under the heading of contract coding as opposed to fundraising?

Might not be a bad paid service to offer on an ongoing basis, although how you'd square a pay-for-requested-code system with the donation model espoused by Mouser is anybody's guess.
 

8217

Official Announcements / Re: March 2011 DonationCoder.com Fundraiser Celebration -- Ideas for Special Events?

« Last post by 40hz on February 13, 2011, 11:33 AM »

ok...I spent some time trying to think of something that could be non-goofball fun; but also be in keeping with the coding roots of DC.

I'm thinking maybe a small contest to see who can come up with the absolutely smallest program in (lines of original code) to do something that is unambiguously and generally useful. If you need an example, think of something like Steve Miller's PureText which weighs in at 12kbytes..

It could be broken into two groups to keep it fair: programs that are coded in a traditional language, and script language based programs.

I don't think you should penalize for taking advantage of a runtime or framework since the ability to leverage an available resource or existing codebase is the trademark of a professional programmer.

Groups could be further subdivided into "most useful" and "smallest size." Ideally, the "best" program would win in both categories.

Anyway, that's my suggestion.  

8218

Official Announcements / Re: March 2011 DonationCoder.com Fundraiser Celebration -- Ideas for Special Events?

« Last post by 40hz on February 13, 2011, 11:29 AM »

Should we primarily focus on techy type stuff or open the doors to anything?

8219

Living Room / Re: Fascinating data visualizations

« Last post by 40hz on February 12, 2011, 10:28 PM »

I love this kind of stuff.

- Oshyan

-JavaJones (February 12, 2011, 10:15 PM)

Me too!

8220

Living Room / Re: Borders Goes Bankrupt - The Death of Print at Retail?

« Last post by 40hz on February 12, 2011, 10:19 PM »

One of my favorite things when I was a kid was ordering books at school. We'd get a list of books that we could buy. When they finally came, it was uber-joy~! I remember one of the books, "Who is Bugs Potter?"

-Renegade (February 12, 2011, 07:50 PM)

Wow! We had that at my school too. It came through a company called Scholastic Book Services. I still remember one of the books I got from that program. It was called Young Scientist Looks at Skyscrapers by Dr. George Barr.



It was the first of several books by that author that I read as a kid, my favorites being Research Ideas for Young Scientists and More Research Ideas for Young Scientists. These books introduced you to the scientific method. They taught you how to do background research, basic experimental design, accurate record keeping, and report generation while conducting experiments on topics such as the weather, animal behavior, simple chemistry, and physics.



These books encouraged you to go and find out about things that puzzled you.

It may sound trite, but Barr's books completely changed my life. They taught me to think scientifically and, even more importantly, how to conduct simple but very serious research. Those projects triggered a love for 'doing' science that has stayed with me till today.

On a lark, I looked these books up on Amazon, and found some of Barr's titles are still available used.

I was also gladdened to discover the series still continues, albeit updated with slightly different titles. Apparently the phrase "Young Scientist" must have offended somebody, or came to be considered 'sexist,' because the new books have replaced the term "Young Scientist" with "Young People."  

 

Not that it matters. It's just great to see books like this are still being published.  

8221

Living Room / Re: Borders Goes Bankrupt - The Death of Print at Retail?

« Last post by 40hz on February 12, 2011, 05:59 PM »

^Disagree on the books side of the equation. I like to really carefully look over a book before I buy it.  Especially some of those $50+ paperbacks we computer people are so fond of. Customer reviews and sample pages (a la Amazon) are ok, but nothing equals spending 20 or 30 minutes over a coffee while carefully perusing two competing book titles before making your purchase decision.

Guess that's going to go the way of the dodo too.  

8222

Living Room / Re: Borders Goes Bankrupt - The Death of Print at Retail?

« Last post by 40hz on February 12, 2011, 09:25 AM »

Guess it depends on where you live.

The B&N and Borders where I live opened (with major media splashes) as stand alone stores.

We were all amazed by the size, range, and depth of their offerings. Prior to their arrival, bookstores in our area were mostly small, funky, very eclectic operations that were usually jammed into lofts or converted Victorian houses. Most were as much a labor of love as they were businesses.

Both the big stores offered aggressive discounts to their customers when they first opened. In-store discounts ranged from 10% to 30% off cover depending on what you bought. And most times, your purchase would "earn" you a register coupon worth $5 or an additional discount off on your next purchase. Didn't take long before the public voted with its wallet.

There was also the issue of store hours. Both big stores operated on an extended schedule. But Barnes & Noble took the cake on that one. For the first three years in operation, our B&N opened at 9:00am and closed at 11:00pm, Monday thru Saturday. On Sundays it was 10:00am to 10:00pm.

And in case you were wondering, B&N got busy between 9:00 and 11:00pm on many nights. People would be getting off the NYC train, or leaving a restaurant or a movie, and decide to stop in and get something to read on the way home. It was only a short while before a community of late night book buying "regulars" formed. And these regulars were most of its "heavy buyers" according to the store manager. (I know this because I asked her.)

Low prices, big selection, long store hours - combined with a polite and helpful staff (that understood standard English) - it was an absolutely killer marketing strategy.

The end result is that there are no longer any indy bookstores around where I live. And there are virtually no independent booksellers (i.e people that sell used on an informal basis out of their garage or barn) either.

Now, 20 years later, it looks like the online booksellers are about to run this same play on the "Big B Bookstores."

Guess it's true: what comes 'round goes 'round.  

8223

Living Room / Re: Borders Goes Bankrupt - The Death of Print at Retail?

« Last post by 40hz on February 12, 2011, 07:11 AM »

The sad truth is that real bookstores appear to be going the way of the real hardware store and hamburger stand.

In a society that "knows the price of everything - and the value of nothing," something as valuable as a good bookstore doesn't stand a chance against 'free shipping' and '30% off.'

Amazon understands this well enough that they've incorporated a bar code scanner into their iPhone app. Scan a bar code and you can now add it to your Amazon shopping cart or wish list with one tap of your finger.

It's a brilliant strategy really. They don't come right out and say it. But the message is still clear: Shop anywhere - but buy from us.

And it will no doubt continue to work brilliantly for them. Right up until the day the last physical bookstore closes its doors one last time.

"So it goes."  

8224

Living Room / Fascinating data visualizations

« Last post by 40hz on February 11, 2011, 04:11 PM »

With last week's public release of data from NASA's Kepler Mission some very interesting and potentially insightful ways of examining the data sets are beginning to appear. Which points to the value of involving the public in some of the "Big Science" being done our researchers.

For those who don't know about the Kepler Mission:

Importance of Planet Detection

The centuries-old quest for other worlds like our Earth has been rejuvenated by the intense excitement and popular interest surrounding the discovery of hundreds of planets orbiting other stars.

There is now clear evidence for substantial numbers of three types of exoplanets; gas giants, hot-super-Earths in short period orbits, and ice giants. The following websites are tracking the day-by-day increase in new discoveries and are providing information on the characteristics of the planets as well as those of the stars they orbit: The Extrasolar Planets Encyclopedia, NASA/IPAC/NExScI Star and Exoplanet Database, New Worlds Atlas, and Current Planet Count Widget.

The challenge now is to find terrestrial planets (i.e., those one half to twice the size of the Earth), especially those in the habitable zone of their stars where liquid water and possibly life might exist.

The Kepler Mission, NASA Discovery mission #10, is specifically designed to survey a portion of our region of the Milky Way galaxy to discover dozens of Earth-size planets in or near the habitable zone and determine how many of the billions of stars in our galaxy have such planets.

Results from this mission will allow us to place our solar system within the continuum of planetary systems in the Galaxy.

An unusually interesting article on independent data visualization can be found over at BoingBoing. It discusses some of the work being done by Jer Thorp.

Jer is a native of Vancouver, Canada, but he currently makes his home in New York City, where he is the New York Times' Data Artist in Residence and a visiting professor at New York University. He's also a contributing editor at Wired UK. Shortly after the Kepler data release, Jer and I started talking about how he could dynamically visualize both the magnitude and the nuance of the discoveries. This is what we came up with.

Some really cool things to think about:

Important data trends prominently emerge from this visualization. The abundance of smaller candidates and relative sparsity of larger ones clearly indicates that there are many tiny, meek worlds for every giant planet. But curiously there is a relatively stark drop-off in the frequency of Kepler candidates at or below approximately Earth-size

Rather than me re-summarizing it, read the whole article here.

Also be sure check out the link to Jer's blog. Jer is one of those people that mixes art with science to produce some amazing work.

About seven years ago, I had a bit of a career crisis. I was freelancing – working for clients I didn’t care much about on projects that I didn’t care much about, and feeling that there was a huge distance between the work that I was creating and my physical self. I was sick of computers, and was considering a range of (in hindsight) ridiculous vocational changes.

My rescue didn’t come from a new programming language, or a faster computer, or even better clients. It came, instead, from a return to the physical. I learned how to screenprint, and made rock posters for local bands, out of my living room. Every weekend, a friend and I would rack paper, pull squeegees, make an enormous mess – and escape from all of our pixel-based problems. We kept it up for a few years; after I moved into a larger, cleaner, less ink-friendly place I put my screens into storage. Even though I stopped printing, that time I spent screenprinting turned the rest of my career in a more creative direction.

Imagine how happy I was, then, to be asked by curator Christina Vassallo to be part of the inaugural edition of her Random Number Multiple series – a project that would produce screenprints from the work of computational artists and designers. Even better, this first edition would pair me with Marius Watz, an artist who has been a huge inspiration to me over the years, and whose work is exceptional in every way.

His site features examples of art generated by his various software projects along with the sourcecode he used to render the images. Should be a natural for the code and mathematically inclined among us.


Hop over to http://blog.blprnt.com and check it out.

While you're there, take a look at his unfinished 7 Days of Source series of articles for examples and code downloads.

These projects run the gamut from beautiful:

Trees are uniquely suited to being simulated using computer graphics. Indeed, since the 1970s, methods to algorithmically render trees have been developed and refined to the point at which trees seen in high-quality scenes are very nearly photorealistic. For this project, rather than concentrating on realistic renderings, I was instead interested in how simple forms could capture the inherent ‘treeness’ of the real thing.

To practical and potentially useful:

tools like Processing offer another solution – make small, custom tools for individual data sets which can be built quickly and can be used specifically to work with the characteristics of a specific data set. Because Processing is fairly simple, journalists, researchers and activists can all be empowered to investigate data themselves, without having to rely on expensive or difficult to acquire resources.

This sketch is an example of how this might work. I wanted to investigate the recently announced staggering Arts & Culture cuts in my local government‘s budget, and built a simple tool to do that. All told, it took about 5 hours to gather the data, produce this tool and get the results out on the web – certainly a turnaround time that would be useful for media and for activists looking to be quick with their responses.

 

8225

Developer's Corner / Re: How did WordPress win?

« Last post by 40hz on February 11, 2011, 03:52 AM »

The thing about OSS is that it's only a software licensing model

-Renegade (February 10, 2011, 07:47 PM)

+1 x 10!

No matter how many times the advocates of OSS and FOSS point that out, people still somehow have trouble understanding that. Maybe that's because the licensing employed by proprietary software products is part of the business model.

WordPress won the mindshare battle

-Renegade (February 10, 2011, 07:47 PM)

Yes, and yes a thousand times more!

It's not about features, or technical excellence, or clean code, or any of the other critically important things software creators live with and by. Programmers constantly need to be reminded that it's not so much what they're interested in or believe. It's what the people in their deployed base want if they hope for their project to become popular.

Smart projects understand this and engage their community. And meaningfully interact with it.

People want to belong. Wordpress allowed them to do that. They got down with their users. They invited them in. They allowed them to play in the sandbox to a degree that was almost unprecedented at the time. And from that level engagement, Wordpress created a vibrant and vocal community that put it over the top.

It's not so much whether or not Wordpress is superior to MovableType. It's a question of which product, and company, and community the people like more.



Byrne Reese's entire article seems to miss that point.

MoveableType didn't have its ball taken away from it. People simply found a different ballgame they'd rather play in.

And to characterize the events and actions that led to Wordpress trouncing MovableType in collective mindshare as a "war" further reinforces my belief that he still just doesn't get it.

And probably never will.

However, the article is his analysis after all. And as such it makes for an interesting read. Even if it does smack of 'green-eyes' from time to time...


I'm sure the Wordpress developers and community would tell the story very differently.