This Group, what more do we need ?

[OHM \( Terry Burns \)]

I was thinking about community the other day, and wondering what would be
the holy grail for a developer in need. I mean, we do get help here, but its
done on a best endeavours basis and its really really good most of the time.

What Ideally would you guys like to see in the perfect community site which
would help you out?

--
OHM ( Terry Burns ) * Use the following to email me *

Dim ch() As Char = "ufssz/cvsotAhsfbuTpmvujpotXjui/OFU".ToCharArray()
For i As Int32 = 0 To ch.Length - 1
ch(i) = Convert.ToChar(Convert.ToInt16(ch(i)) - 1)
Next
Process.Start("mailto:" & New String(ch))
--

 

[Jay B. Harlow [MVP - Outlook]]

OHM,
Umm, trick question right?

I would say the internet as a whole.

In addition to these newsgroups, there are http://msdn.microsoft.com &
http://www.google.com, as well as any number of other web sites, such as
google.com, martinfowler.com, refactoring.com, asp.net, windowsforms.net to
name just a few. Then there are the numerous blogs available...

Just a thought
Jay

 

[OHM \( Terry Burns \)]

What though would constitute a perfect service for you which give you
everything you need and how much would you be willing to pay ?




--
OHM ( Terry Burns ) * Use the following to email me *

Dim ch() As Char = "ufssz/cvsotAhsfbuTpmvujpotXjui/OFU".ToCharArray()
For i As Int32 = 0 To ch.Length - 1
ch(i) = Convert.ToChar(Convert.ToInt16(ch(i)) - 1)
Next
Process.Start("mailto:" & New String(ch))
--

OHM,
Umm, trick question right?

I would say the internet as a whole.

In addition to these newsgroups, there are http://msdn.microsoft.com &
http://www.google.com, as well as any number of other web sites, such as
google.com, martinfowler.com, refactoring.com, asp.net, windowsforms.net to
name just a few. Then there are the numerous blogs available...

Just a thought
Jay

 

[Brian Schwartz]

I never know what I'm going to need next. Given all the free resources on
the internet, I can't say I'd be willing to pay, when I just have to search
a little. A service that had "everything" would require some searching
anyway.

Just my two bits.

Brian

--

Brian Schwartz
FishNet Components
http://www.fishnetcomponents.com
Building better tools for developers - Be part of it!

 

[Ken Tucker [MVP]]

Hi,

Whenever I am answering questions in the newsgroups I am constantly
switching back and forth between outlook express and vs.net. I have been
working on a newsreader addin for vs.net.

Ken
----------------------------
I was thinking about community the other day, and wondering what would be
the holy grail for a developer in need. I mean, we do get help here, but its
done on a best endeavours basis and its really really good most of the time.

What Ideally would you guys like to see in the perfect community site which
would help you out?

--
OHM ( Terry Burns ) * Use the following to email me *

Dim ch() As Char = "ufssz/cvsotAhsfbuTpmvujpotXjui/OFU".ToCharArray()
For i As Int32 = 0 To ch.Length - 1
ch(i) = Convert.ToChar(Convert.ToInt16(ch(i)) - 1)
Next
Process.Start("mailto:" & New String(ch))
--

 

[OHM \( Terry Burns \)]

Cool, maybe you want to share this when its done, or are you going to sell
it ?

--
OHM ( Terry Burns ) * Use the following to email me *

Dim ch() As Char = "ufssz/cvsotAhsfbuTpmvujpotXjui/OFU".ToCharArray()
For i As Int32 = 0 To ch.Length - 1
ch(i) = Convert.ToChar(Convert.ToInt16(ch(i)) - 1)
Next
Process.Start("mailto:" & New String(ch))

 

[Lucas Tam]

What though would constitute a perfect service for you which give you
everything you need and how much would you be willing to pay ?

$0.00

There are too many free sites around.

 

[Nak]

Hi there,

I was thinking about community the other day, and wondering what would be
the holy grail for a developer in need. I mean, we do get help here, but
its
done on a best endeavours basis and its really really good most of the
time.

It would be nice to only have to refer to 1 web site, instead of having
to hunt high and low through different web sites, FAQ's and newsgroups. Not
that *that* would ever happen. But on what you have just said, that's not
"techinically" correct, have you ever tried the DirectX newsgroups? My
appologies for any offence caused to anyone, but they are leagues below this
one!

Now what *would* be nice is a site used as much as Planet Source Code
but with more grown up code and it actually being reviewed before it's put
on the site. PSC is a great site but lacks credibility because it's for
"newbs" (fekkin hate that phrase!). So yeah, anyway, just my opinion!
Maybe an archive of all the good resources maybe?!? Or an app that links to
a site and allows you to search for and download examples, including
Win32(now that would be cool)!

Nick.

 

[Cor Ligthert]

Nick,

What is wrong at MSDN at the moment, I know there where times that I could
not find anything there.

At the moment I use seldom anything else than MSDN

The problem is searching in the huge amount of information, however that
will in my opinion with every complete site.

(Did you see that nice SQL part they have added lately)

Cor

 

[Ken Tucker [MVP]]

Hi,


I was going to share it.

Ken
---------------
Cool, maybe you want to share this when its done, or are you going to sell
it ?

--
OHM ( Terry Burns ) * Use the following to email me *

Dim ch() As Char = "ufssz/cvsotAhsfbuTpmvujpotXjui/OFU".ToCharArray()
For i As Int32 = 0 To ch.Length - 1
ch(i) = Convert.ToChar(Convert.ToInt16(ch(i)) - 1)
Next
Process.Start("mailto:" & New String(ch))

 

[Herfried K. Wagner [MVP]]

What though would constitute a perfect service for you which give you
everything you need and how much would you be willing to pay ?

EUR 0.0 if I get everything free on the Web.

 

[Nak]

Hi Cor,

What is wrong at MSDN at the moment, I know there where times that I could
not find anything there.

LOL, well quite a bit actually. Especially if you want to find some
example code that is written with reuse in mind. Personally I hate most
Microsoft example code that I find. I know that they are more than capable
of writing A1 code, but in no way can you class code that has more comments
than code, well written, and that's not all I hate about it. Also, more C++
examples than .NET, which is fine but irritating, and allot of their
examples are not particularly easy to read.

I'm sure MSDN has allot in it's favor, in fact I use it occasionally
when all else fails, but I wouldn't consider it as first stop. If they made
it more approachable instead of making it over complex to scare away
non-technical people I would probably agree with you!

At the moment I use seldom anything else than MSDN

That's cool, if you have found what you wanted, and understood it 100%
then it's perfect!

The problem is searching in the huge amount of information, however that
will in my opinion with every complete site.

Yeah, that's so true, but MSDN isn't very userfriendly is it? It was
written in the stone ages (or appears to have been) and needs a face lift I
think.

(Did you see that nice SQL part they have added lately)

Nope sorry, I keep meaning to put some SQL examples on my web site, or
making a free commercial SQL tool just so when the next useless recruitment
agency calls me and asks me if I can do SQL (or any other buzz words that
they have picked up) I can say "yes", look at my site before you waste my
time you bunch of wasters &#@@[]+!+!........ (ahem!)

Yeah, that's my opinion anyway, no matter how crap it may be.

Nick.

 

[OHM \( Terry Burns \)]

Its an interesting concept really, nobody wants to pay for anything if they
can get it for nothing, except if they think that what they can get for free
is not good enough and thats the key.

One of the problems with the net is that there is little in the way of
structure and you cant absolutely trust what you read all the time anyway.

The other problem is that when one does have to pay for something, it damn
well had better be good value right ?

--
OHM ( Terry Burns ) * Use the following to email me *

Dim ch() As Char = "ufssz/cvsotAhsfbuTpmvujpotXjui/OFU".ToCharArray()
For i As Int32 = 0 To ch.Length - 1
ch(i) = Convert.ToChar(Convert.ToInt16(ch(i)) - 1)
Next
Process.Start("mailto:" & New String(ch))

 

[Cor Ligthert]

Terry,

See my other message to Nick, in my opinion is MSDN damn good to get
information, and it is quiet trustable.

I have seen so many (in my eyes often crap) sites, that I will not be the
one who adds again another one, although as so many I started it. (When you
want to see it, mail me than I give you the underconstruction link.) I see
not much benefit from it, except that when MSDN comes with an article, mine
is again mostly useless.

Although is there in my opinion a lot of crap on MSDN as well, that never
should have been published, however the majority is in my opinion good.

Just my thought,

Cor

Its an interesting concept really, nobody wants to pay for anything if
they
can get it for nothing, except if they think that what they can get for
free
is not good enough and thats the key.

One of the problems with the net is that there is little in the way of
structure and you cant absolutely trust what you read all the time anyway.

The other problem is that when one does have to pay for something, it damn
well had better be good value right ?

--
OHM ( Terry Burns ) * Use the following to email me *

Dim ch() As Char = "ufssz/cvsotAhsfbuTpmvujpotXjui/OFU".ToCharArray()
For i As Int32 = 0 To ch.Length - 1
ch(i) = Convert.ToChar(Convert.ToInt16(ch(i)) - 1)
Next
Process.Start("mailto:" & New String(ch))

 

[Aaron Smith]

Something like experts-exchange, but not for profit, and more of a
message board style. I like most web based forums, but I prefer
newsgroups becuase it reaches a larger audience. Plus it's hard to find
all the resources I need when doing searches on the 'net. Mostly because
a lot of sites that get paid for advertising are just big search
engines that feed off of other search engines. I'd like to have one site
to go to that has things broken down into areas, like thecodeproject.com
and others, only have source examples and links to other sites with more
tutorials and information. I'm sure this is out there, but like I said,
it's kind of hard to find unless someone points you there.

With experts-exchange, you get almost the same thing here though, people
just shoot up answers untill the right one is found. While that is good,
you end up having to weed through a lot of stuff that isn't exactly what
you are looking for, because people are fighting for the points...

Aaron

 

[Aaron Smith]

Thats the killer. I shouldn't have to pay for things I can get for free
if I just do the digging myself.

 

[Aaron Smith]

What would be really a good is a simple site that allows searching a
certain set of newsgroups that you specify. Google groups is great,
except I have to weed through a ton of other newsgroups in order to find
relevant posts or create a long list of keywords to single it down, and
sometimes that strips out information I want... I don't want to store
all the messages in my newsreader, so a plugin for VS.Net that would
point to a site like that would be ideal.

 

[Jay B. Harlow [MVP - Outlook]]

Aaron,
Google has a web service based API you could use to create such an add-on.

http://www.google.com/apis/index.html

Not sure if this is what Ken is basing his on or not.

Hope this helps
Jay

 

[Jay B. Harlow [MVP - Outlook]]

Terry,

Its an interesting concept really, nobody wants to pay for anything if
they
can get it for nothing, except if they think that what they can get for
free
is not good enough and thats the key.

Its a chicken & egg problem, every thing I currently need is free, other
then my MSDN subscription, so I see no need to pay for what I am already
receiving.

On the flip side: I am not aware of anything that I would "need" as a
developer that I would be willing to pay for, which I suspect is what you
are asking for.

One of the problems with the net is that there is little in the way of
structure and you cant absolutely trust what you read all the time anyway.

I know of a couple of pay services, that I would *NOT* trust, where as I
know of free services (these newsgroups) that I would trust, at least trust
to the point that I can research it further myself...

The problem I have with pay services is how do we truly trust they know what
they are talking about? I've seen presenters talk about .NET, that simply
"get it wrong", I normally take what the others give and go the extra yard
to verify what they stated makes sense.

Even information that MS puts out, I put a little extra research & ensure
that I fully understand how it works and why & when I might use it.

The other problem is that when one does have to pay for something, it damn
well had better be good value right ?

100+% agree!

Just a thought
Jay

Its an interesting concept really, nobody wants to pay for anything if
they
can get it for nothing, except if they think that what they can get for
free
is not good enough and thats the key.

One of the problems with the net is that there is little in the way of
structure and you cant absolutely trust what you read all the time anyway.

The other problem is that when one does have to pay for something, it damn
well had better be good value right ?

--
OHM ( Terry Burns ) * Use the following to email me *

Dim ch() As Char = "ufssz/cvsotAhsfbuTpmvujpotXjui/OFU".ToCharArray()
For i As Int32 = 0 To ch.Length - 1
ch(i) = Convert.ToChar(Convert.ToInt16(ch(i)) - 1)
Next
Process.Start("mailto:" & New String(ch))

 

[Aaron Smith]

You just had to tell me about that, didn't you... As if I didn't have
enough to play with at home! lol

I'll have to look at that and see what I can come up with...

Aaron,
Google has a web service based API you could use to create such an add-on.

http://www.google.com/apis/index.html

Not sure if this is what Ken is basing his on or not.

Hope this helps
Jay