How Do You Find the Right Tool for the Right Job ? 63
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."
Usenet... (Score:5, Interesting)
Google (Score:2, Interesting)
Re:Google (Score:1)
Also, if I don't know the technical term for something, describing it in simple words will enable people to realise what I need, whereas google will be no good.
That's why Google's USENET search is useful. (Score:3, Insightful)
If a piece of hardware or software has been released and used by more than a few people, the chances are quite good that someone has discussed that item or piece of software somewhere on USENET over the past ten years.
Re:Google (Score:3, Informative)
Google Groups [google.com] is your friend.
You will find (with some effort) information about problems, products, programs, procedures, etc.
You can waste lots of time searching the web.
That is due to bullshit websites that have lots of keywords but no information.
MS likes to support those sites that frustrate Linux newbies.
Great Question. (Score:2, Informative)
Re:Great Question. (Score:2)
Re:Great Question. (Score:2, Insightful)
Re:Great Question. (Score:2)
Sometimes you get a case where there's a great web tool with a crappy website, but if this is the case, I think you
Re:Great Question. [OT] (Score:4, Interesting)
I recently went through this same search. We were looking for something that integrated a lot of our business processes. I came to one conclusion: If you want software that does exactly what you need, you have to write it yourself.
We've been using SimplyAccounting forever to do accounting, and not really tracking inventory (we have a very high number of different parts, but don't keep a huge stock on hand). Dispatching was done by filling out a form on the computer and printing it -- there was no real tracking system since the forms weren't all that searchable, and you couldn't find unfinished jobs etc.
About two years ago, we ended up purchasing a very expensive program (after looking at mid-high end accounting systems for a while) to do accounting. While trying to implement it, we found it was just too much - it forced us to alter some of our processes to work the way it wanted, and it was just overly complicated (hard to learn). On top of that, it didn't do everything we needed, and for example, I was starting plans to write the actual dispatch tracking part (with it doing invoicing and inventory). We basically abandoned that after a year, when we still hadn't made much progress in switching and they were starting to hit us up for a new support contract.
After fixing some staff problems, we started the process again in February. We ended up switching our accounting to QuickBooks, and using a product that can connect to QuickBooks called ESC by Coastal Computer. ESC can create invoices from dispatches, and post those invoices back to QuickBooks. It also has much more comprehensive inventory management and customer equipment tracking.
It still doesn't quite do everything we want (we have filters we need to service every 2 or so years, for example, and it doesn't really have good a way to 'remind' us to call the customer about that, and no way to automatically reset that date after invoicing a filter service). On the plus side it has a backend I can access (MS SQL), and in the past couple days I've written a program that looks for the service codes on an invoice and resets the service date on equipment. It doesn't require any additional interface, which is good.
We've been in this process for about 6 months though. I originally estimated a year (after my experience the first time when I figured a month or two), so we're well on track. We now do all dispatching, invoicing, and accounting stuff from QB/ESC. Most of our inventory is entered though we need to do a physical count again, and a fair amount of pricing information is missing (though getting closer every day).
So here's my advice: don't implement a solution that causes more work (ie, double-entry of data into dispatch, and then accounting) or has a steep learning curve, as people will not like to use it. Also realize that probably no software will ever meet your exact needs, just get close. Pick something that is flexible, or at least open enough so you can modify or add-on to. An open-source project would be ideal here, but AFAIK none exists.
I did consider starting an O/S project, but figured it would take at least 4 months to get something usable, and several more to work the bugs out and get a full feature set. This is not to mention the time to actually implement. It was simply cheaper to buy something than for me to spend the time on it.
Re:Great Question. [OT] (Score:1)
Re:Great Question. [OT] (Score:1)
Re:Great Question. (Score:3, Interesting)
1. does it have the features I need listed currently or are they just on the future roadmap.
2. Do they have screenshots of the app in action? Screenshots can tell you a lot about the design philosophy of the app and what features are actually implemented.
3. How much documentation is there on the App. The more actual user documentation there is the more mature and established it is (for the most part anyway).
4. Google for people
And we wonder why God Almighty... (Score:2)
After a few Google searches I got a list of over 150 software packages. Where do you even start with something like that?
And we wonder why God Almighty invented salesmen.
Oh ye of little faith...
CPAN (Score:3, Funny)
Re:CPAN (Score:2, Funny)
Re:CPAN (Score:2)
It also seems that the better the comments you post, the more inclined people are to help you.
Demos (Score:4, Interesting)
As for knowing if the software is good or not I run a demo, or I just install it if it's free. If I know what I want it shouldn't take more than the install time plus a few minutes to know if it's good or not. If there is no way to try the software for free, screw it. I wont even consider something I can't try before even knowing if it's what I want.
But most of the time I learn about new software isn't because I go looking for a program with certain features. It's from keeping track of things like del.icio.us pouplar [del.icio.us]. If there is a new program released that does something cool it will be there.
Huh? (Score:3, Funny)
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?
Freshmeat (Score:5, Informative)
Stay informed and up-to-date all the time and not only if you've been delegated to a project.
Re:Freshmeat (Score:2)
freshmeat.net is one of the first places I go.
Re:Freshmeat (Score:5, Insightful)
Re:Freshmeat (Score:1, Insightful)
I usually check out the changelog, web based view of the VCS (also because I don't run code written by morons) and finally public mailing list archives.
Note to everyone: It's very important that documents and news/status updates are dated **SIGH**
Re:Freshmeat (Score:2)
Freshmeat, while being really a software announcment site, happens to be a much better place to search for software. I always sort by popularity. The activity score is important too. The dates of project initial announcement and last update, the popularity and activity scores are displayed also in the search results, giving a quick hint where the good choice may be.
Re:Freshmeat (Score:1)
Portage (Score:3, Interesting)
Portage.
For those not in the know, that's the package repository used by Gentoo. If I know what I'm looking, I search there first. (It's based off of the *BSD port trees.) If I know the genre, I can also search there by category.
For those packages that I have no clue for, I generally search the gentoo forums at forums.gentoo.org [gentoo.org]. Even for non-gentoo linux issues, this forum is very helpful, especially for scratching an itch.
This may seem a bit like zealotry, but portage is the main reason I've abandoned all other linuxes. Almost every time I've wanted software, it's been in the portage tree. The very few exceptions have meant I looked in gentoo's bugzilla for a package that hadn't made it into the public tree yet, and the only time all of this had failed, I wrote my own ebuild and posted it to bugzilla for others to use.
Gentoo: came because I was intrigued by the flexibility, stayed because I don't like installing software, or re-installing OS's, and portage and the rolling upgrades have been fantastic.
Re:Portage (Score:2)
Trove & use cases (Score:4, Insightful)
That's one reason I wish more projects would categorize themselves in the trove software map or something similar. It typically only takes a minute or two, and it's a nice break from coding (or something to do while you wait for a compile).
For that matter, writing up a few use-cases can help clarify your thinking, and posting them can help people find your project and decide if they want to use it. The problem with screen shots (which seem to be much more common) is that they aren't searchable.
--MarkusQ
Several useful steps. (Score:3, Informative)
Look up the terms on Google and see if there is an overarching concept involved.
Look for Wikipedia entries for those terms and the overarching concept. See if any of them have links to Wikipedia pages on software.
Do the same thing with sourceforge.
Do a google search for the software you find. That may lead you to pages that say how good the program is as well as other programs that do similar things.
Jesus. Just Jesus. Jesus.... (Score:1, Offtopic)
Re:Jesus. Just Jesus. Jesus.... (Score:1)
Re:Jesus. Just Jesus. Jesus.... (Score:2)
Re:Jesus. Just Jesus. Jesus.... (Score:2)
Do not use Gugul (Score:2)
I do this a lot (Score:4, Informative)
I run a freeware review site [nedwolf.com] [blatant plug] , and I basically scour delicious.org/popular and software, digg.com / software , freshmeat, FileForum Beta News and a few others. I download 'em, try em, and see what's what. It's a little easier for me because I'm limited to freeware, but these are good places to start.
Re:I do this a lot (Score:3, Informative)
I only did a quick run through of your site, but am I correct that it is a Windows-only software site? I will certainly pass your URL around because I work with some people who seem to feel that software
Re:I do this a lot (Score:1)
Yes, it's Windows-only. Frankly, I felt that to include Linux software would be largely redundant since so much of it is already free, and I don't know enough about Mac software to include that.
I should put the OpenCD link on there. I'm familiar with it and have downloaded it before. Good stuff.
Re:I do this a lot (Score:2)
MOD PARENT UP. Excellent site!
--
Michael Moore on Bush incomptence [michaelmoore.com]: Not a good writer, but good ideas
Re:I do this a lot (Score:2)
I was browsing through it and I kept installing things and now I dont evern remember everything I installed.
Hopefully the ones I am forgetting are those little useful utilities that show up when you need them (like foldersize) but you dont have to actively use.
This site solves the problem for Windows users. (Score:2)
MOD PARENT UP. Excellent site!
Whoops! Hit the submit button before I was fully ready.
What do you think of TugZip [tugzip.com]?
I would like a way to limit searches on your web site to Open Source software. I think it would be good if each listing on your site mentioned if the package is open source.
--
Michael Moore on Bush incompetence [michaelmoore.com]: Not a good writer, but I agree.
Download.com (Score:3, Informative)
Their editors' rating is fairly reliable, if not, the users' comments usually set them straight.
IRC (Score:2)
I go to certain IRC channels where the question wouldn't be off-topic and ask "I'm trying to do in , and I've found several different projects out there by googling. Can anyone recommend a specific application for ?"
Of course, that takes knowing the right IRC channels, and there is no way I'm posting that for the /. trolls. :)
Certain usenet groups and mailing lists are also very helpful.
The zen of jedgment (Score:4, Funny)
Wiseman: You will gain good judgment only with experience.
Acolyte: How do I obtain this experience?
Wiseman: Bad judgement.
apt-cache search (Score:2)
It's far from the only tool, but at least 95% of the time it does the job for me. Debian has packaged such a massive collection of software that there's something for nearly every task. Two or three somethings, usually.
Re:apt-cache search (Score:1)
Ofcourse this doesn't work for all software, but it's always my first step when looking for software.
The next steps are freshmeat and google, but usually those take a lot more time, because of searching, compiling and integrating it with my system.
BTW, I use the
apt-cache search <whatever> (Score:3, Informative)
Re:apt-cache search (Score:2)
Notice I mentioned "apt-cache" (Score:2)
Let's try an example. Say I want to install some electrical circuit design/simulation in my computer. So, I do "apt-cache search electrical":
atlc - Arbitrary Transmission Line Calculator
electric - electrical CAD system
ksimus - KDE tool for simulating electrical circuits
partlibrary - Electrical and processing parts and symbols for QCad
SEUL/Edu Application Index (Score:1)
It's easy (Score:3, Funny)
Freshmeat.net! (Score:2)
I have been using Freshmeat.net [freshmeat.net] for seven or eight years. It is a great place to get open source material. It includes not only sourceforge projects, but other OSS and non-OSS projects as well. The search function seems to work well enough for me to find good solutions to my needs.
Do what I do... (Score:1, Funny)
For the life of me I don't know if this comment is +1 Insightful, +1 Funny, or -1 Troll.
In My Pants, of course (Score:1, Troll)
Like everybody here I look on slashdot, theregister and google. I ask my friend who in turn ask me on other topics. There simply is no true and absolute source for answers. And to be frank, Slashdot it's really a place to find answers. Too bad slashdot limits the size of you sig or I would have used this;
Linus Torvalds on Slashdot
"Gaah. I don't tend to bother about slashdot, because quite frankly, the whole _point_ of slashdot is to have this big pu
Help Me, Too (Score:2)
Any advice?
Re:Help Me, Too (Score:2)
Tigris.org (Score:3, Informative)
Ask somebody (Score:1)
My company (Score:2, Funny)