sourceforge.net makes me scream

  • Thread starter Harvey Van Sickle
  • Start date
H

Harvey Van Sickle

AAAAAAAAAARRRRRRRRRRGH.

WHAT am I doing WRONG when I'm directed to sourceforge.net to download
programs?

Invariably, I find the sourceforge link to the program; click on that;
get a list of mirrors; click on a mirror -- doesn't matter which one;
and wind up at the home page of the mirror.

I don't know how many times I've given up at that point trying to find
the software -- I do a search (program name or downloadable file) and
find nothing. Go to the mirrored software lists, and reach get an
unsorted list of files on an ftp server -- none of which bear
even a remote resemblance to the name of the download I'm looking for.

Is there a masonic handshake involved that nobody's told me about?
 
S

Stefan Ascher

Harvey Van Sickle said:
Invariably, I find the sourceforge link to the program; click on that;
get a list of mirrors; click on a mirror -- doesn't matter which one;
and wind up at the home page of the mirror.

Don't click the Logo of ther mirror, but the Link in the Download column.
 
A

Alex

Or - even more! - be patient and auto-download will start. It takes some
time and i agree that this waiting time may be annoying
 
D

donutbandit

AAAAAAAAAARRRRRRRRRRGH.

WHAT am I doing WRONG when I'm directed to sourceforge.net to download
programs?

Invariably, I find the sourceforge link to the program; click on that;
get a list of mirrors; click on a mirror -- doesn't matter which one;
and wind up at the home page of the mirror.

I don't know how many times I've given up at that point trying to find
the software -- I do a search (program name or downloadable file) and
find nothing. Go to the mirrored software lists, and reach get an
unsorted list of files on an ftp server -- none of which bear
even a remote resemblance to the name of the download I'm looking for.

Is there a masonic handshake involved that nobody's told me about?

No, it's the secret handshake of the Linux head. Make everything as hard to
understand as possible, bury things seven or eight levels deep in the
directory, pile sub-directories upon sub-directories, and you now know
Linux-speak.
 
H

Harvey Van Sickle

On 08 Jan 2004, Stefan Ascher wrote
Don't click the Logo of ther mirror, but the Link in the Download
column.

Ah: that's what I was doing wrong. (It's probably intuitive for most
people, but it wasn't for me; I assumed when it said "Select a Mirror"
that one was supposed to click on one of the mirrors, and that the
download column just let you know the size of the download file...)

Many thanks (live and learn; it may save a bit of future carpet-
chewing...)
 
M

MLC

mercoledì 07/gen/2004 _Harvey Van Sickle_ ha scritto:
Is there a masonic handshake involved that nobody's told me about?

I've been wondering the same many times, although for a different cause:
with some servers IE6 jumps to a 98% CPU usage and freezes, while it
doesn't with others. Every time I feel like in those games where if you
open the wrong door you're dead!
 
B

Bob Adkins

Is there a masonic handshake involved that nobody's told me about?

Sourceforge's web pages are goofy, but I always manage to get what I want.
Hover your mouse over things and look a file link in the status bar.

Bob
 
B

Ben Cooper

MLC said:
mercoledì 07/gen/2004 _Harvey Van Sickle_ ha scritto:


I've been wondering the same many times, although for a different
cause: with some servers IE6 jumps to a 98% CPU usage and freezes,
while it doesn't with others. Every time I feel like in those games
where if you open the wrong door you're dead!

I've had that same experience. Now, if I want to download anything through
Sourceforge I visit the site using Mozilla. Seems to work better with the
Sourceforge site.
 
S

Steven Burn

I've had that same experience. Now, if I want to download anything through
Sourceforge I visit the site using Mozilla. Seems to work better with the
Sourceforge site.
</snip>

I've never had a problem with either IE (5.x, can't stand 6.x) or the
browser I use now (Avant).

--
Regards

Steven Burn
Ur I.T. Mate Group
www.it-mate.co.uk

Keeping it FREE!

Disclaimer:
I know I'm probably wrong, I just like taking part ;o)
 
T

Trevor Noble

MLC said:
mercoledì 07/gen/2004 _Harvey Van Sickle_ ha scritto:


I've been wondering the same many times, although for a different
cause: with some servers IE6 jumps to a 98% CPU usage and freezes,
while it doesn't with others. Every time I feel like in those games
where if you open the wrong door you're dead!

Use a download manager such as Download Express - just pause and restart at
the 98% stopover point.
http://www.metaproducts.com/mp/default.asp

Regards
T
 
M

mike ring

Ah: that's what I was doing wrong. (It's probably intuitive for most
people, but it wasn't for me;

Me neither, I did exactly the same thing, but finally cracked it. (All that
time in the maze pays off eventually...
Many thanks (live and learn; it may save a bit of future carpet-
chewing...)
Living and learning is NOT the Human way, that's why we still back second
favourites for a place, buy cars from old ladies, strike for a 40 percent
pay rise.....

mike r
 
B

Brian Pipa

Harvey said:
Ah: that's what I was doing wrong. (It's probably intuitive for most
people, but it wasn't for me; I assumed when it said "Select a Mirror"
that one was supposed to click on one of the mirrors, and that the
download column just let you know the size of the download file...)

Many thanks (live and learn; it may save a bit of future carpet-
chewing...)
Make sure you select your "favorite/closest" mirror in the dialog at the
bottom right nad it will automatically use that mirror for you every time.
 
H

Harvey Van Sickle

Ah: that's what I was doing wrong. (It's probably intuitive for
most people, but it wasn't for me;
-snip

Make sure you select your "favorite/closest" mirror in the dialog
at the bottom right nad it will automatically use that mirror for
you every time.[/QUOTE]

Thanks; that's a useful tip to know.
 
C

Chris Lee

AAAAAAAAAARRRRRRRRRRGH.

WHAT am I doing WRONG when I'm directed to sourceforge.net to
download
programs?

Invariably, I find the sourceforge link to the program; click on
that;
get a list of mirrors; click on a mirror -- doesn't matter which
one;
and wind up at the home page of the mirror.

I don't know how many times I've given up at that point trying to
find
the software -- I do a search (program name or downloadable file)
and
find nothing. Go to the mirrored software lists, and reach get an
unsorted list of files on an ftp server -- none of which bear
even a remote resemblance to the name of the download I'm looking
for.

Is there a masonic handshake involved that nobody's told me about?


Since Sourceforge works for the vast,vast majority of people who use it
with little or no problems, it might just mean that like most of the UI
advocates I've come across, you're just an idiot.
 
G

George Duh-bya

Since Sourceforge works for the vast,vast majority of people who use it
with little or no problems, it might just mean that like most of the UI
advocates I've come across, you're just an idiot.
I guess I'll be nice and give you the secret. Don't click on the graphic in
the host column, but instead on the file in the DOWNLOAD column.
 

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