The good thing about the Essential Freebies Board is that moderators are allowed to wipe threads from spam, redundant entries and other chitchatting that is maybe of use in the present moment but only makes threads unreadable in the future.
So, @ghisler:
If you need a cleaner, I am your man. This thread would really need one.
The Wiki is good for creating a database of applications but it will be polluted with "not so good programs" in no time. What are people supposed to do with a list of 50 editors for example?
The Wiki software corner can only be a success if we define a goal like "only the best of the best" due to the huge amount of applications available but as creating a Wiki article needs more time it's not a replacement for this thread.
The best approach I know to create a useful database is the EFB board, it has simple rules like "one thread per application" in which all updates can be posted. Meaningful comments are not deleted to make it easier for interested people to find the program they need.
The downside is that there are not enough categories but this is what will be a problem in the Wiki too as soon as program amount is rising.
Icfu
Last edited by icfu on 2005-12-06, 10:32 UTC, edited 1 time in total.
Actually I'm "compiling" a list of all tools posted in this thread (up to p.10 at the moment). I'll let you know when it's finished - you may want to include it to the Wiki (it was planned to post it here but I don't care at all...).
The Wiki is good for creating a database of applications but it will be polluted with "not so good programs" in no time. What are people supposed to do with a list of 50 editors for example?
Some weeks ago I found a free help authoring application. I used it for some days and found out it really sucks. I added a "request for deletion" template to the article knowing that it will be deleted the next the author cleans up the Wiki.
The Wiki software corner can only be a success if we define a goal like "only the best of the best" due to the huge amount of applications available but as creating a Wiki article needs more time it's not a replacement for this thread.
That's a good idea. Only the best programs (which is subjective of course) should be listed there.
The best approach I know to create a useful database is the EFB board, it has simple rules like "one thread per application" in which all updates can be posted. Meaningful comments are not deleted to make it easier for interested people to find the program they need.
The downside is that there are not enough categories.
The Wiki is even better here. An article remains readable because comments and discussions are performed on an extra page
Why don't we use some scheme similar to this:
- there should be pros and cons for every program which is mentioned on the list. Pros and cons must be defined as keywords so people can search this db in standardized way. Specific program properties can be described using human language. People on the forum shoud learn specialized language that is to form software descriptions headers only. Any comment should be written after header.
- there should be top list depending on votes.
- only members with substantial activity are alowed to vote, so to avoid passangers which will most likely cause SPAM.
This is just a thought, and it is widely open to suggestions.
This is something we need. So we must find the best organisation for that database.
Only the best programs (which is subjective of course) should be listed there.
And this is also the problem. Some prefer tiny, resource-friendly apps, some prefer suites that can do it all.
The Wiki is even better here. An article remains readable because comments and discussions are performed on an extra page
This extra page is nice for discussing articles, but comments to a program should be directly integrated in the article to get an overview at once. So, regarding software I would prefer a Wiki having some more forum features.
And this is also the problem. Some prefer tiny, resource-friendly apps, some prefer suites that can do it all.
Yes but this problem occurs in both forum and wiki.
This extra page is nice for discussing articles, but comments to a program should be directly integrated in the article to get an overview at once. So, regarding software I would prefer a Wiki having some more forum features. Wink
I have to disagree here. For me even simply comments are confusing on a program description article page.
Yes but this problem occurs in both forum and wiki.
Yep, but in the forum you can be sure that crappy applications will at once receive feedback because it's all in one place. The Wiki, due to the categories, is hard to watch. If it's possible to limit the "recent changes" to the software category it may be a nice alternative though.
I have to disagree here. For me even simply comments are confusing on a program description article page.
This is a problem of the Wiki then, not the article itself.
What is confusing when you have the article in the first posting and comments thereafter in the following postings?
My opinion is: If we cannot do it better than EFB, we can just stop trying.
And this is also the problem. Some prefer tiny, resource-friendly apps, some prefer suites that can do it all.
Yes but this problem occurs in both forum and wiki.
We need standardized way of describing applications. Somebody should try to underscore all common software atributes and create keywords for them like:
DM2:
Pros: image size = 80K
interface = tray icon, hot keys, ...
execution speed = fast
Cons: compatibilty = windows blinds
interface = no icons in favorites
interface = not practical in design of some menus
This is cool because the one will be able to browse through properties that interest him the most (interface ?... speed ?)
The one should be able to click on item for complete description.
Don't mention now software that doesn't fit any categorisation because this is just an idea.