I've been thinking about how we can make things easier on getting new developers on board, since there's more and more interest. So, what I'm thinking is we'll do a couple things. First, we'll make it easier to host new apps on the SF project. Second, we'll let the release techs be able to post these new apps. At the moment, Ryan and Marko are release techs (in addition to me).
I'm thinking that, in addition to the "Pre-Releases" category, we add a new "Test Releases (Alpha Quality)" category. New releases of new apps by newer developers would go into there using a "Test" splash screen that we can use (I'm thinking a grey-scale version of the regular one with the words 'TEST RELEASE' on it) and we'll ensure that the release announcement includes that it's an alpha (unchecked) release. Then, once the bugs are ironed out and it's got all the PAF guidelines met, help file, splash, etc, we'll do a Pre-Release of it to iron it out and then a stable release.
I think this would be a good way to balance newer stuff from untested folks with the proven stuff released by myself, Steve, Marko, Ryan, etc.
To further separate, we could also have a PortableApps-Test SourceForge project... but I think that may be unnecessary.
Thoughts?
Regards,
John
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Great idea. Very generous. Volume testing can be critical to successful apps/portable editions.
When do we start? Can I be the first? CDisplayEx PE
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Life is about the journey not the destination!
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The Kazoo Spartan
Life is about the journey not the destination!
The Kazoo Spartan
But we'll need to wait until Monday to start. A bunch of stuff dev-wise is coming next week. I'll make the new splash screen a part of it, too.
Actually, haven't you done a couple other apps (or parts of apps)? (Apologies as I should probably remember, but there's just way too much in my brain at the moment.)
Sometimes, the impossible can become possible, if you're awesome!
... and I improved on Ryan's PortableApps.com FF search plugin. I am currently researching some other projects though.
I have noticed that SF hosts some web pages also. What about a page with links to downloads and support. Kinda like this page, but with the links for support(nodes at this forum). But that might be too much work for Ryan, Marko and you.
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Life is about the journey not the destination!
My site * My Blog
The Kazoo Spartan
Life is about the journey not the destination!
The Kazoo Spartan
Excellent idea. I think creating a whole new project for testing would be too much, but new categories would simplify things and give more users a chance to contribute.
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The developer formerly known as ZGitRDun8705
maybe a theming or/and a graphic (for logos, picture, style.... requests ) Categories ?
greetz
NeoRame
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Sorry for my lousy English!!!
Hell was full, so I came back!!!
Sorry for my lousy English!!!
I forgot to mention that. There will be a 'Themes' category on SourceForge for originally-created themes that are released under an open source license by theme developers. These can become hosted within the PortableApps.com project on SourceForge.
(And yes, I still plan on having you as a big part of that. And, yes, I *REALLY* owe you an email... sorry about that)
Sometimes, the impossible can become possible, if you're awesome!
You should try Backpack by the 37 Signals guys. Specifically the reminders section
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Ryan McCue.
Blog.
So all that Airbus-delay trouble over here in Europe is because of YOU!
Simeon.
"If you're not part of the solution, you're part of the precipitate."
I like the idea. Would previously released apps be in the Pre-Releases rather than having to go back to the Alpha section?
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Glad to here PortableApps.com is finally really 'opening up' to outside developers. I think the Alpha section is an awesome idea infact and think many would really benefit from it including me.
The whole release method sounds great. I'm all-for.
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Wow, I just noticed I still had a signature, that's enough of that.
I like the Alpha idea as a few of the apps in the Beta forum have had some big bugs where the dev probably does the old slap to the forehead 'Doh!' like forgetting .DLLs, etc. (not a slam against anyone...oversights are common and expected...that's why we beta test :)). Once these get flushed out they could go "beta" where you'd find the little bugs that affect that one guy in a thousand who has some weird setup. People would then "trust" the beta apps a little more and then maybe more "normal" people (non-geeky/programmer-types like us) would try them out.
Having a common "test" splash is a great idea. Maybe have a text link in the splash they could read real quick on where to go to get an update. This may be the only time you could clue a new user in on where to go if they get ahold of a test version of an app. Something like that...
Cancer Survivors -- Remember the fight, celebrate the victory!
Help control the rugrat population -- have yourself spayed or neutered!
The category sounds good. I don't see what's wrong with my test splash though
The seperate project would be unnecessary in my opinion and having all the test ones in the main project would get us higher on the downloads list too
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Ryan McCue.
Blog.
So all that Airbus-delay trouble over here in Europe is because of YOU!
Simeon.
"If you're not part of the solution, you're part of the precipitate."
... and a good way to get new developers on board.
Let me know where I can help, if help is needed.
Regards
Marko
Paid for Software more or less?
What You need is OSS!
... that some of us could work on informally?
Not that you should dedicate an important piece of new development to just one untested newcomer ... but having a few suggestions might get you some interesting implementations and let you see how new folks approach the issue. And you might get some usable solutions out of it.
It might even give you some idea of strengths and weakness and where different people might fit in to a development team.
MC
I'm working on finalizing the splash screens and I'm wondering about thoughts on the naming. As most devs know, we keep the current version of the base app intact (1.2.5 Beta 2, for instance) and then add on "Pre-Release 1" etc for official releases. For earlier in the cycle releases (either because they're by newer devs and untested or because they're still rough and/or haven't been fully tested by the dev before posting for community testing), we'll be calling them something else. I was planning on "Test Release", but I'm also debating on "Developer Release" or something similar. It will say "Alpha or Beta Quality" below that on the splash.
And the file names will be similar. So where we have:
AppName_Portable_1.2.3_PRERELEASE1.paf.exe
We'd have:
AppName_Portable_1.2.3_TEST_RELEASE1.paf.exe
AppName_Portable_1.2.3_DEVELOPER_RELEASE1.paf.exe
Thoughts?
Sometimes, the impossible can become possible, if you're awesome!
Because developer for most sounds like it's coming from an official developer who has experience, so they'll expect it to be top notch.
I agree with Mr Patience..."Test" would be better IMO.
Cancer Survivors -- Remember the fight, celebrate the victory!
Help control the rugrat population -- have yourself spayed or neutered!
"Developer Test" perhaps? Or "Development Test"? Although that's a bit long for the filename.
Sometimes, the impossible can become possible, if you're awesome!
Development Test sounds good.
... for me.
I think Development Test is nearly perfect
Regards
BTW: Because of the new splashscreens are not avaiable yet I've used a grey version with the Hint "THIS IS A TESTRELEASE! PLEASE USE CAREFULLY" for the OOo Portable Multilang Test Version.
Marko
Paid for Software more or less?
What You need is OSS!
and appreciate it.
Its a good way to get new people and more apps here.
And its a good way of pushing us to the top of the most-downloaded-projects list
Maybe I get the stuff done I have lying around at home (Griffith-the movie manager and others).
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