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Could we possibly sticky a Roadmap of PAP development?

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March 12, 2009 - 8:10am
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solanus
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Could we possibly sticky a Roadmap of PAP development?

It seems that you have taken a more ambitious approach to releases and timelines in the last few weeks.
While it is exciting, it's also kind of confusing, with the release numbering changes and introduction of some of the features that people have been asking for.
I've also seen posts that look ahead several versions, such as this one:
https://portableapps.com/node/18439#comment-113729
(Although that one refers to the numbering and features you had previously thought of doing, not what you will be.)

Anyway, if you could post a Roadmap, it would be great for all those helpful people that want to suggest new features. It would also help moderators that want to point noobs to a post if they miss it and ask for things like categories, theming, etc, that are already planned.

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March 12, 2009 - 11:15am
Zach Thibeau
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roadmaps I think John Doesn't

roadmaps I think John Doesn't like as it means trying to meet deadlines, Personally I would prefer a happy John doing stuff without the stress of deadlines Smile

your friendly neighbourhood moderator Zach Thibeau

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March 12, 2009 - 11:39am
(Reply to #2)
solanus
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Well - Roadmaps really don't contain deadlines

Take a look at the following roadmaps:
Audacity:
http://audacityteam.org/wiki/index.php?title=Roadmap

Inkscape:
http://wiki.inkscape.org/wiki/index.php/Roadmap

OOo:
http://wiki.services.openoffice.org/wiki/Features#OpenOffice.org_roadmap

Only OOo even projects any future release date, but nobody really believes them anyway. The really useful part is the intended features in each version.

I'm not trying to stress John out - I only mentioned timelines because he keeps putting them in his posts. Personally I'd rather not be told expected release dates at all.

What concerns me is that I also see JTH answering a lot of questions about which features are going to be in which versions, in an ad hoc manner whenever they crop up in posts. Those answers tend to get buried in the threads, so veterans and noobs alike keep asking them.

If the intended features/version are listed in one place, it would save a lot of effort. And yes, definitely without deadlines!
Questions about release dates are much more easily answered with "The wheels of John grind slowly, yadayada".

I made this half-pony, half-monkey monster to please you.

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March 12, 2009 - 12:50pm
(Reply to #3)
dragonmage
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I think that would be a good

I think that would be a good idea. Planned features, and what version they are planned for, but no dates.

A link to the list should be added to the top of the post preview page also. That might cut down on the multiple posts requesting the same features.

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March 14, 2009 - 9:03am
(Reply to #4)
incognite
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Give me

a philosophy I can align myself to and I will hit the ground running

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March 20, 2009 - 8:45am
benway
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Will 2.0 ever...

I think this is a great idea. I, myself, keep coming back here every 6 months or so (for years) wondering if 2.0 is any closer (or, simply, if there's a release that will let me make folders or remove list items without 3rd party hacks). I spend about 30 minutes going through all the posts hunting for news that a new release might be imminent or when these feature are due... I see we just now got the ability to rename list items, but you still can't remove items or add folders which is paramount to usability.

As much potential as PaP has (and as much as I appreciate that this is a one-man show), I'm afraid I've moved on due to 2.0's ever receding release. It's basic usability hasn't changed in years (screw wallpaper, we need folders and removable list items). Guess I'll check back in another 6 months.

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March 20, 2009 - 9:15am
(Reply to #6)
J Neutron
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Remove things now

Let me be the first to let you know that you missed that a method to remove an item is built into the menu.

I guess you'll see this when you come back in 6 months....

Jim

Edit: Just so you know:
https://portableapps.com/support/portable_apps_suite#hidingicons

neutron1132 (at) usa (dot) com

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March 20, 2009 - 8:27pm
(Reply to #7)
incognite
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:)

Wink

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March 20, 2009 - 11:01pm
Chris Morgan
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Sample roadmap:

Version 2.0:
New features:

  • Look at the release announcement when it's released

Release date: when it's ready.

Version 3.0:
New features:

  • Look at the release announcement when it's released

Release date: when it's ready.

Et cetera ad infinitum.

How's that sound? Blum

Seriously though, I'd prefer to have time spent in development than in saying what you're going to develop. And until we get more financial backing, it's all spare-time stuff, and so dates are hard to stick to. Making it become financially viable is at the moment one of the most important things - especially that means sorting out selling of USB disks with the PortableApps.com Platform and PortableApps.com applications on them. Donations also help.

I am a Christian and a developer and moderator here.

“A soft answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.” – Proverbs 15:1

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March 21, 2009 - 1:22pm
(Reply to #9)
solanus
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While I am usually a fan of sarcasm...

I think you've missed my point.
If you check through my posts above, the idea is intended to try to save time for John and Co.
1. No dates!
2. Reduce the amount of time answering the same questions over and over!

1. Really, anyone who spends any time on these posts realizes that release dates are meaningless, so DON'T include release dates - and put a statement in the sticky that release dates will never be posted.
No release dates. Period.

2. On the other hand, how much time is wasted answering people that ask the same development questions over and over? You could answer those questions by saying, "Go jump in a lake! It's none of your business!", but most of the time I see the devs (trying to help) referencing one obscure post after another that tangentially refers to a part of the development plan. That's GOT to take more time away from development than posting a rough outline of the development plan.
I am, of course, assuming that there is a development plan, and not just a dartboard with features taped to it, that you toss a dart at every morning for the feature you'll work on that day! (That was a joke - I hope!)

It's all about human nature, Chris. This is a very cool site, with a very involved community. The generally welcoming nature of the community has helped the project, I'm sure, since a lot of young talent has had the opportunity to shine here.
But a community that is this involved, and this enthusiastic, is going to ask for information about the flagship app of the suite!

Again, my suggestion is intended to SAVE the devs time, while reassuring the PA community at large that there is some form of plan.
If JTH thinks it's a good idea, great, I think it would help. (I had originally added "@JTH" in my post - I guess some moderator removed it.)
If not, oh well, then don't do it.

I made this half-pony, half-monkey monster to please you.

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March 21, 2009 - 1:24pm
(Reply to #10)
Tim Clark
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Just a point of note:

Just a point of note:

I removed the @JTH from the post yesterday.
As at this point John has read it and I did not feel it needed that to make it continually stand out to get his attention [the topic was started on the 12th]. It served it's purpose the first couple days. No reflection on the topic should be inferred.

Tim

Things have got to get better, they can't get worse, or can they?

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March 21, 2009 - 10:44pm
(Reply to #11)
solanus
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Thanks,Tim

No worries, I figured it was something like that.

And just because it's not said enough, thanks to all the developers for their hard work!

I made this half-pony, half-monkey monster to please you.

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