How Do You Find the Right Tool for the Right Job ?

Arthur B. asks: "Whenever I try to find a software product, I find myself browsing SourceForge, but it's really hard to find something, when I only know the features I want and not the name of the project. It's hard, once I find a software, to gather information about it's reliability (is it a huge collaborative OSS project, an IT giant driven project or an end of term student project). The same is true about package trees in Linux distros. I'd like to ask the crowd: Where do you pick your software (be it commercial or not)? How do you compare different products? How do you know what a software does exactly before using it? Does a website provide this kind of help? Please let me know your tips and tricks."

CPAN

[bhima]

I know that sounds crazy but that's usually where I wind up anyway

Huh?

[Saeed al-Sahaf]

Whenever I try to find a software product, I find myself browsing SourceForge, but it's really hard to find something, when I only know the features I want and not the name of the project

If you knew the name of the solution to your problem, you wouldn't be searching for a solution to your problem, now would you?

The zen of jedgment

[Anonymous Coward]

Acolyte: Master, how can I be sure I have good judgement?

Wiseman: You will gain good judgment only with experience.

Acolyte: How do I obtain this experience?

Wiseman: Bad judgement.

Re:CPAN

[anti-trojan]

I think you make a signature for yourself to find the software you are looking for.

It's easy

[Deanasc]

I only own a hammer so I make sure every problem is a nail.

Do what I do...

[Anonymous Coward]

...and submit your question to Ask Slashdot.

For the life of me I don't know if this comment is +1 Insightful, +1 Funny, or -1 Troll.

My company

[Brandybuck]

Here's what my company does: they go ask Steve Ballmer. At least it seems that way.