Author Topic: Fundraiser ONE-A-DAY Planning Calendar, Please Volunteer (Read 60,330 times)

mouser · « **on:** February 28, 2011, 02:59 AM »

We were discussing here and here the idea of doing a special new-app-per-day or new-minireview-per-day event during the month of March to celebrate the fundraiser.

What I thought would make a little more sense and be a little more manageable and easy to convey is the new idea, SOMETHING-NEW-EACH-DAY of the fundraiser.

So the goal will be to each day have something new, either a new app, coding snack, mini-review, giveaway, screencast, software update, etc.

So we have 31 days to fill, and maybe we can actually try to build a little calendar here to try to get people to help volunteer for days, and i will work to fill in when no one steps up.

When March starts, the new item for each day will be added to the jump-off page for the fundraiser.

March 1 - Mouser - Newsletter
March 2 - Timns - Mini-Review
March 3 - Skwire - Software
March 4 - ATH - Software
March 5 - Tomos - MiniReview
March 6 - Timns - HowTo
March 7 - Mouser - Software
March 8 - Stoic Joker - Software
March 9 - JGPaiva - Software
March 10 -Timns - Software
March 11 - Cranioscopical - Mini-Reviews
March 12 - Mouser - Software
March 13 - Mouser - MiniReview
March 14 -
March 15 - Timns - MiniReview
March 16 - Skwire - Software
March 17 - Wraith - Writeup
March 18 - Skwire - Software
March 19 - Ath - Software
March 20 - siesta
March 21 - Mouser - Software
March 22 - phitsc - MiniReview
March 23 - Mouser - Software
March 24 - Skwire (Software) and Phitsc (reviews)
March 25 - Skwire - Software
March 26 - siesta
March 27 - Skwire - Software
March 28 - Mouser - Newsletter 2 and Giveaway opens
March 29 - JavaJones - Review
March 30 - Mouser - Software
March 31 -
April 2 - Fundraiser Giveaway

Ok so now I need people to start volunteering to release something new on a given day -- a mini-review, coding snack, etc.; The earlier the better obviously so we have more time to fill in later days, and creating something ahead of time so you can stand in for anyone who drops out would be good.

Who's ready to pick a date or two?

housetier · « **Reply #1 on:** February 28, 2011, 03:26 AM »

I think it should be possible to have several items per day. So someone makes a review, another one can blog about the fundraiser, DC in general, or even about this particular review.

skwire · « **Reply #2 on:** February 28, 2011, 03:46 AM »

Quote from: housetier on February 28, 2011, 03:26 AM

I think it should be possible to have several items per day.

Agreed...but I think we need to fill all current slots before doubling up on any.

mouser · « **Reply #3 on:** February 28, 2011, 03:57 AM »

House, I'm trying to live by the advice of my mother who was always smart about such things; it's surprisingly hard advice to follow: Under-promise, Over-deliver.

Put simply -- it means everyone is happier when you surprise them by delivering more than you promised and they expected. While at the same time, no matter how amazing a job you do, if you made the mistake of promising them something outlandish the the beginning, they will be disappointed.

So let's just focus on doing one new little thing per day during March, and if we have more by the time we are done, all the better.

Target · « **Reply #4 on:** February 28, 2011, 04:08 AM »

Ath · « **Reply #5 on:** February 28, 2011, 07:27 AM »

I'll take care of a Coding Snack release on March 3rd.

worstje · « **Reply #6 on:** February 28, 2011, 07:39 AM »

So, I came up with a project. I haven't got a definite release date picked yet, but it is not a project I can do alone. I already mousered mouser into this, and now I am going to try and recruit the rest of you.

In the style I and my awesome white hat have acquired in the past few months, I am not going to tell you what it is. Everyone 'loved' guessing what JottiQ might be, and from experience I know people haven't changed a bit in that regard. So instead I am going to tell you all to take my word on it, and to simply assume epicness.

And of course, I am telling you all to apply for one or more of the tasks listed below. You will be told as much as you need to know, and not a bit more. This in the hope to build some anticipation for this March Madness, and keep the surprise fresh when it comes out.

We are currently looking for: (my rough uneducated guesses as for the time the task takes are listed too)

A webpage designer with a bit of graphical skills, since I lack those. (Time taken: 2-10 hours)
At least five creative minds. (Time taken: unknown)
One person who is handy/gifted with one of those icon editors that's been given away. (Time taken: however long it takes)
One (talented)mIRC scripter (Time taken: ~2 hours for a basic script, infinite for a really polished script by someone OCD and obsessed with details like me)

The above list is in order of urgency. Some people (tasks) may only be able to work after others or I are done preparing certain pre-requisites. Italics mean (very) nice to have but not required for the project to be released.

For now, I am aiming for a half-way through March release. Maybe it will slide a bit, but hopefully not. Use that as a guideline around what time of the month your services will be needed when you apply. You can ask questions on IRC or to me personally through PMs. Or just post here if that is what you prefer.

timns · « **Reply #7 on:** February 28, 2011, 03:57 PM »

I'll take:

March 2nd for my mini-review
March xth for my how-to (just plunk it anywhere that there's a gap)
March 14th or later for my app, which will actually be under development for a long time thereafter, but it should at least be usable by then

timns · « **Reply #8 on:** March 02, 2011, 02:41 AM »

I just posted my mini-review. Bit early, but I want to knock off in a minute and watch some telly

housetier · « **Reply #9 on:** March 02, 2011, 05:54 AM »

Where did you post it? Link it please

Renegade · « **Reply #10 on:** March 02, 2011, 06:32 AM »

Reviews are tough to do. So, got a couple questions...

* Reviews that are more task-based? e.g. You want to do X, so use Y, and do Z. etc.
* Reviews by authors? Everyone knows the strengths and weaknesses of their own software, so it's much easier to write about.

I'd like to do some, but am worried that I simply can't commit the time needed for a review that would be as thorough as I would want. e.g. Evaluating compression, encryption, imaging, video, or audio software is simply a massive task as those fields are SOOOOO well developed, that you really need to get down & dirty to say anything useful. (For example, see maximumcompression.com -- It's done very well, but the effort there is gargantuan.)

housetier · « **Reply #11 on:** March 02, 2011, 06:41 AM »

I'd find those recipes very good too. "Say you want to do this, so take that tool, install, click here, select there, clicky here and done" in a somewhat more elaborate prose could be really helpful. But I wonder if that would still be a review, even if the recipe is really helpful.

tomos · « **Reply #12 on:** March 02, 2011, 09:05 AM »

+ 1 to being challenged by idea of writing a review - personally I often only use aspects of a programme and therefore dont feel qualified to review...

Quote from: housetier on March 02, 2011, 06:41 AM

I'd find those recipes very good too. "Say you want to do this, so take that tool, install, click here, select there, clicky here and done" in a somewhat more elaborate prose could be really helpful. But I wonder if that would still be a review, even if the recipe is really helpful.

could be called (e.g.) a context review, or something like [How-to/Mini-Review] using XYZ.
I think this is a good idea. I'd like to do a review but as said above didnt feel qualified (and havent really been using any new software anyways) - I will have to look at my options again...

I think the How-to idea was mentioned in another thread - with the suggestion to have a seperate home for them. At the moment I would suggest they could be posted in the mini-reviews section so long as the title expresses the, eh, "how-to" aspect. Presumably if you posting a how-to you are saying this app is good at this and also maybe pointing out any weaknesses, etc.

timns · « **Reply #13 on:** March 02, 2011, 03:32 PM »

My review is here

...and I sort of filled in the standard mini review template to the best of my abilities.

timns · « **Reply #14 on:** March 02, 2011, 06:34 PM »

Looks like we still need a few more pledges... I'll create a How-To. Please put me down for either the 4th, 5th or 6th depending on who else steps into the breach.

Ath · « **Reply #15 on:** March 02, 2011, 07:22 PM »

I'm aiming at an add-on tool for what I'm releasing tomorrow (March ~~3rd~~4th, got bumped by an App release of skwire, but that's OK), and I guess it's doable this month so what would be another release (if I really push it ofcourse, as in fact it's a configuration-gui

)

timns · « **Reply #16 on:** March 02, 2011, 07:33 PM »

Votes please: my how-to will either be:

a) "How to work with simple regular expressions" with a lot of (I hope) useful examples and recommendations and maybe some source showing use in Java and Delphi which may lure in some coders

OR

b) "How I use Skype when monitoring critical applications on remote PC's and have it message me when something nasty happens"

Whaddya mean neither of them sound very exciting?