The following qualities will disqualify any software from entry. Please
vote, allowed or not allowed.
1. Software displays static, fixed advertisements of other products and
services (not related to the current software) on starting program.
2. Software displays static, fixed advertisements asking you to register
or purchase paid product.
3. Software displays dynamic advertisements by contacting online server
on starting program.
4. Author of Software requests that you do something such as sending a
postcard or email to the software author, perform a good deed, make a
contribution to charity post card
5. Software which stops working after a period of time or number of uses.
6. Software that is stolen, and/or enabled, by illegal means.
7. Software that is time limited
8. Software that is in beta.
9. Software has features that are 'greyed out' in the interface.
etc
Many but not all of them map perfectly into what we call registerware,
warez, donationware, betaware etc, but given that we are voting to
disallow software based on what they do, and not what they are called, it
seems better to vote on properties rather than just names/labels whose
definition changes from year to year!
For instance, what is Adware or nagware? Typically a couple of guys will
argue about the definitions (most of the group doesn't get involved),
then ask the group to vote.
Seems to me you are doing this backwards, who cares how adware/nagware is
defined! The idea is to exclude software because of what it does, not how
we label it right? Or are we assuming that adware and nagware will always
be disallowed?
Instead of trying to create a definition for some imaginary ware type, on
the assumption that such ideal forms exist, let's just throw out features
and vote on them.
We can also add new properties to the list to disallow when necessary
rather than try to come up with some new cute ware type name, or to
change existing ware type definitions to fit.
It also avoids misunderstandings, people may have their own idea about
what adware/nagware is, and will vote or object/nominate based on that,
rather than the definitions you came up with and changes every year.
And when people object to nominations it's way easier to object by saying
, Antivir/Powerdesk is out because it fits #5. Rather than says both are
nagware, and then look up the definition and realise, surprise surprise
the latter isn't.
It also provides precision. FOr example look at the following definition
"Adware: software that displays advertising for other products and/or
services (often downloaded from the internet by the software). "
We can now split the 2 properties there
1) displays advertisng for other products and
2)Downloaded from the internet by software
into seperate citera for voting if needed.
The main drawback i can see is that, if you do it this way, fewer people
might join in the vote because it takes a lot more effort to think about
what you are disallowing rather than coasting on labels like nagware,
spyware, adware etc.
And to tell you the truth, having a short hand way of referring to stuff
, sounds cool to me. But it just isn't good for playing the game.
It seems the thing missing here