[PL] PL2006 General Discussion

[Susan Bugher]

Susan, This is too late for this year but I noticed that
there exists a standard xml description format for software
that is apparently used by many software distribution sites. Maybe
it could be useful, especially if descriptions are already available
in that format (or maybe its only applicable to shareware or
commercial software -- I haven't investigated it):
http://www.asp-shareware.org/pad/

Bill R suggested PAD files quite a while ago. They're good for author's submittals to
Freeware/Shareware sites, not so great for ACF. We have last freeware versions, Abandonware etc.
etc. - there are no files for those apps. We don't always define "wares" the same way authors do.
Not too many authors admit to creating Crippleware, Spyware, Adware etc. etc. apps. . . There
are a number of other differences too - IOW we'd probably have to create our own if we decide to go
down that road and that does tend to negate the benefits.

That said I've just spent the day rearranging/rewording/reworking the database so items are more
standardized. I've uploaded the first set of pages. You'll have to look closely to see that changes.


http://www.pricelesswarehome.org/2006/about2006PL.php

I've also added some notes about preparing descriptions and some examples to the ACF wiki:

http://acfwiki.pbwiki.com/index.php?wiki=SelectionProcess


Susan
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[REM]

Susan Bugher <[email protected]> wrote:

Pricelessware is "the best of the best". Programs that are nominated for the Pricelessware List
should have some small claim to that distinction. The proposed "extra burden" for a few programs is
a reality check - a requirement to show support for the program *before* it is placed in nomination.

The requirement should be added because. . .

One person can propose any program they like and as many programs as they like. There are some
drawbacks to that procedure. A. A. Fussy has proposed 5 of his own programs (so far) as candidates
for PL2006. A. A. Fussy's programs have been critiqued in the newsgroup as unusable or barely usable.

I can attest to this from the two Babya programs that I've tried. I
"challenge Fussy," if this is the way we're going to have to go to
keep him from self-nominating poorly written programs as
Pricelessware!

A reality check is needed to put a stop to abuse of the Pricelessware selection process. The
proposed procedure is simple. If a "challenged" program has two supporters it is added to the list
of candidates for nomination. If it has only one supporter it's removed from consideration.

I also like John's idea of just ignoring him (and anyone else) who
chooses to spam the group in the way he has done.

Either way is fine by me; Babya is not Pricelessware in my opinion!
Not even close!!

This is a weakness in the trust system we've utilized here for years.

Really bad programs, as well as suspicious votes for bad programs
should be challenged or ignored... somehow or another. Shame fussy!

 

[David]

I can attest to this from the two Babya programs that I've tried. I
"challenge Fussy," if this is the way we're going to have to go to
keep him from self-nominating poorly written programs as
Pricelessware!


I also like John's idea of just ignoring him (and anyone else) who
chooses to spam the group in the way he has done.

Either way is fine by me; Babya is not Pricelessware in my opinion!
Not even close!!

Now that's a priceless statement! ;-)}}}

 

[Susan Bugher]

I can attest to this from the two Babya programs that I've tried. I
"challenge Fussy," if this is the way we're going to have to go to
keep him from self-nominating poorly written programs as
Pricelessware!

I also like John's idea of just ignoring him (and anyone else) who
chooses to spam the group in the way he has done.

John also brought up the possibility of sock puppets - IOW a supporter might be the same person.
Bjorn S. suggested laying the burden of proof on the program. I agree. IMO withdrawing a program
description is the easiest way to handle this. I've marked A. A. Fussy's programs as withdrawn. I'm
showing all programs on the posted lists of programs submittals to ensure the group is informed
about the status of posted descriptions. If a withdrawn program gains support in the newsgroup the
decision to withdraw it will be reconsidered.

Either way is fine by me; Babya is not Pricelessware in my opinion!
Not even close!!

This is a weakness in the trust system we've utilized here for years.

Really bad programs, as well as suspicious votes for bad programs
should be challenged or ignored... somehow or another. Shame fussy!

On the whole the system works pretty well. The goals are well established and most people understand
them. The bottom line is we're not going to let the Pricelessware List be exploited. If rules are
bent or misunderstood we'll take whatever steps are necessary to correct the situation.

Susan
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Pricelessware: http://www.pricelessware.org (not maintained)

 

[John Fitzsimons]

On Tue, 27 Sep 2005 14:34:13 -0400, Susan Bugher

On the whole the system works pretty well. The goals are well established and most people understand
them. The bottom line is we're not going to let the Pricelessware List be exploited. If rules are
bent or misunderstood we'll take whatever steps are necessary to correct the situation.

Susan

Which brings to mind the question "What is Babya System doing here ?"

http://www.pricelesswarehome.org/2004/PL2004nDESKTOP.php

IMO the way he abuses this newsgroup he doesn't deserve any mention on
any PL page. It gives him free advertising.

Regards, John.

 

[unicorn]

I agree with your suggestion Susan, even raise the number of
endorsements to match the number of challenges.

 

[Susan Bugher]

September 15 -October 14, 2005 - Candidate program description submittals. Category and ware discussion.

We're at the halfway point. It's looks like we may have a *very* short Pricelessware List this year.

http://www.pricelesswarehome.org/2006/2006PL-Nominations.php

To make things a little easier I've uploaded a page with ALL existing program descriptions (except
apps that already have posted descriptions). There are several hundred programs - they're listed in
alphabetical order. The descriptions on that page are in the PL2006 format - please use them as the
starting point for revised descriptions.

If there's no description on that page a new description is needed. Check the ACF Program
Information pages and use that info (if any) as your starting point.

http://www.pricelesswarehome.org/acf/P_ProgramIndex.php

Information about submitting a program description is here:

http://www.pricelesswarehome.org/2006/2006PL-Procedures.php

http://acfwiki.pbwiki.com/index.php?wiki=SelectionProcess

Susan
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Pricelessware: http://www.pricelessware.org (not maintained)

 

[Susan Bugher]

September 15 -October 14, 2005 - Candidate program description
submittals. Category and ware discussion.

We're at the halfway point. It's looks like we may have a *very* short
Pricelessware List this year.

http://www.pricelesswarehome.org/2006/2006PL-Nominations.php

To make things a little easier I've uploaded a page with ALL existing
program descriptions (except apps that already have posted
descriptions). There are several hundred programs - they're listed in
alphabetical order. The descriptions on that page are in the PL2006
format - please use them as the starting point for revised descriptions.
http://www.pricelesswarehome.org/2006/ProgramDesc.php

Susan

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Pricelessware: http://www.pricelessware.org (not maintained)



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[Marten Kemp]

CATEGORY: Programming
SUBCATEGORY: Language
AUTHOR'S EMAIL ADDRESS : http://www-306.ibm.com/software/awdtools/obj-rexx/

01 Object REXX
02 IBM Object REXX is an object-oriented programming language suited for
beginners as well as experienced OO programmers.
03 (OS-WIN): Windows 2000, Windows 2003, Windows 98, Windows Me, Windows
NT, Windows XP
04 (OS-NOTES): At minumum a 486 processor
05 (OS-OTHER): AIX, OS/2, SUN/Solaris, Linux
06 (LANGUAGES)
07 (DESCRIPTION)
07a (NOTES)
08 IBM
08a (AUTHOR):
09 Download from
10 http://www-306.ibm.com/software/awdtools/obj-rexx/
11 Documentation available from
12 http://www-306.ibm.com/software/awdtools/obj-rexx/library.html
13 (LINK 3 DESCRIPTION)
14 (LINK 3)

 

[Susan Bugher]

I agree with your suggestion Susan, even raise the number of
endorsements to match the number of challenges.

Hi unicorn,

Per suggestions from others the burden of proof will be on the program that's been withdrawn. If
there is *credible* support from newsgroup participants the program will be be placed on the list of
candidates for nomination. (If it looks like sock puppets are supporting the program it will not be
listed.)

Susan
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[Marten Kemp]

CATEGORY: Programming
SUBCATEGORY: Language
AUTHOR'S EMAIL ADDRESS (munged):

01 NetREXX
02 NetRexx blends the clean, easy-to-learn syntax of Rexx with the
robustness and portability of the Java™ environment. The result is a
language tuned for both scripting and application development, and
designed for both interpretation and compilation – a truly
general-purpose language .
03 (OS-WIN)
04 (OS-NOTES)
05 (OS-OTHER)
06 (LANGUAGES)
07 (DESCRIPTION)
07a (NOTES)
08 (COMPANY)
08a (AUTHOR)
09 Download from:
10 http://www-306.ibm.com/software/awdtools/netrexx/download.html
11 Documentation at:
12 http://www-306.ibm.com/software/awdtools/netrexx/library.html

 

[Susan Bugher]

The plan. . .

31 days at 12 descriptions per day = 372 program descriptions

The current reality. . .

2005-09-28 (72 description to date) + (17 days remaining at 12 descriptions per day =
204 additional descriptions) => 276 program descriptions (maximum)

IOW - please submit program descriptions ASAP. TIA

http://www.pricelesswarehome.org/2006/ProgramDesc.php

Susan
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Pricelessware: http://www.pricelessware.org (not maintained)

 

[Susan Bugher]

CATEGORY: Programming
SUBCATEGORY: Language
AUTHOR'S EMAIL ADDRESS (munged):

01 NetREXX
02 NetRexx blends the clean, easy-to-learn syntax of Rexx with the
robustness and portability of the Java™ environment. The result is a
language tuned for both scripting and application development, and
designed for both interpretation and compilation – a truly
general-purpose language .
03 (OS-WIN)
04 (OS-NOTES)
05 (OS-OTHER)
06 (LANGUAGES)
07 (DESCRIPTION)
07a (NOTES)
08 (COMPANY)
08a (AUTHOR)
09 Download from:
10 http://www-306.ibm.com/software/awdtools/netrexx/download.html
11 Documentation at:
12 http://www-306.ibm.com/software/awdtools/netrexx/library.html

Since this is a discussion thread please note. . .

Preparing program descriptions is like a BYOB party. I'm mixing and pouring drinks *if* you furnish
the necessary ingredients. It's hard to make a decent Martini from one or two olives. . .

Susan
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Pricelessware: http://www.pricelessware.org (not maintained)

 

[REM]

Susan Bugher wrote:

The plan. . .

31 days at 12 descriptions per day = 372 program descriptions

The current reality. . .

2005-09-28 (72 description to date) + (17 days remaining at 12 descriptions per day =
204 additional descriptions) => 276 program descriptions (maximum)

IOW - please submit program descriptions ASAP. TIA

I guess that I haven't found very many new "keepers" this year that I
would nominate as pricelessware. The process seems to be going pretty
slow and we really need to put together a good list for 2006.

How about approaching this from the opposite angle? Let's look at the
2005 list and put the programs back up for discussion. The majority
will easily roll over as PL, but I think there might be a few that
should be removed.

http://www.pricelesswarehome.org/2005/PL2005ProgramIndex.php

Eraser for instance, has never quite worked correctly on my XP system.
I've been left with large illegally named temp files that required
DelinvFile to remove (I think I'll try to get the info to nominate
this one). Perhaps from group input we can determine whether this is a
real problem, or something specific to my system, and vote on whether
to keep or remove it.

 

[Susan Bugher]

How about approaching this from the opposite angle? Let's look at the
2005 list and put the programs back up for discussion. The majority
will easily roll over as PL, but I think there might be a few that
should be removed.

Perhaps people don't realize descriptions need to be posted for ALL programs this year. I tend to
forget that not everyone is as familiar with the requirements as I am. I'll start posting a reminder
when I post the list of program descriptions that have already been submitted.

Program descriptions can be copied from this web page:

http://www.pricelesswarehome.org/2006/ProgramDesc.php

Checking and updating the description should be fairly easy if it's a PL2005 program.

Susan
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Pricelessware: http://www.pricelessware.org (not maintained)

 

[Susan Bugher]

October 15 - October 31, 2005 - Program nominations, seconds and program
discussion.

Preliminary PL2006 web pages are on-line - to make it easier to discuss
and compare the various programs.

http://www.pricelesswarehome.org/2006/PL2006ProgramIndex.php
http://www.pricelesswarehome.org/2006/PL2006BUSINESS-HOME.php

etc. etc. etc. (You can get to them easily from the nominations page by
using the PL2006 link)

Burnr might start playing around with the graphics as part of his
content - dunno - ATM the pages still have the PL2005 "look".

Susan
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