Survey posted 2006-01-19 04:04 by Jon.

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It would be nice to see a method in place to prevent file rating abuses. Currently, a file's rating can be destroyed with out any accountability. This kind of anonymous activity is unfair to the author.

I agree, but than again, with tons of ratings a day, who ever who would have to review the ratings would go insane, maybe send them a confirmation email to help cut down on rating's abuse?

Tons of ratings??
The 68k section is rated very poorly. The projects are either rated very good or very bad; most projects don't get any rating.

Speaking for myself, I'm always dissapointed if I check out my author page and realize that I didn't get any ratings - I would be dissapointed more if I would get bad ratings, I think. The rating system is not very good and also dangerous, because it provides an anonymous way to discourage upcoming programmers that are not experienced with the community and release betas at ticalc - a low rating is the logial consequence...

Nicely said Saubue.

The author should have access to the user's name that rate their files. This would severely cut down on "abnormally" low ratings -- or possible "revenge" ratings. As it stands currently, it is the best way to get back at someone that you do not like. Or worse, its the best way to increase your own file ratings by rating others lower.

One way to increase the total amount of ratings would be to require that you rate a file prior to downloading another file. Or, maybe require the user to rate at least 1 file per some reasonable number (maybe 10) of file downloads.

Here's my idea. Once a program has been rated thrice, you can only rate it three in either direction, IE if ZARP 1.0 (example program) got rated three times with an average of 7, you could only rate it 10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, or 4. Of course, there may be some flaws.

Interesting idea. At least that is better than:

'9' '9' '10' '9' '1'

I voted to improve the search. There are a great many amazing programs, but finding them takes far too long. Some things to note:

* "Search keyword(s) too short" has to go away. Most of my search terms are indeed too short because they are mathematical/engineering oriented. I do not know if this is feasible.
* We need a more capable advanced search feature that allows us to specify the platform that we're searching for. When I'm looking for vector tools, a huge majority of the results are for more popular platforms like the 83+, and it takes me a while to click through each result to find something for the 89. And that brings me to...
* Show the platform next to each result.

I think that's about it, but I'll add stuff if I remember it. Anyone agree with me? I seem to be the only person who voted to improve the search.

Yes, it would be cool to have a better search feature, but a forum would be fine as well :-)

Yes, I think that's a great idea too. I also think that you should add Direct USB as a cable option under "Cables Owned".

Actually, that might not be such a good idea. I own a "Direct USB" cable, without owning a USB-capable calculator. It came with my external hard drive (gotta love standards).

there are a ridiculous number of outdated pages on TiCalc.org. See my post on the first page.

I've voted "Other", because a kind of database (and it could also be a forum) for developers where they can release betas and post news of their upcoming programs for testing would be a great addition. It could also be organized the way ti-news.net does it.
Boolsoft has already wrote an e-mail to the ticalc.org staff a few months ago.

That would be a great idea except for:

1. People would start projects and never use them.
2. People would probably think they could have something no calculator related on the there projects.
3. The server would die :S We would need another one

Realize that if coded right, the server won't die. Such pages would probably have to be regenerated less than most other portions of this site.

I suppose so, but that would be no different than the websites hosted on TIcalc.org, really.

Why not make a validating system (like the one ticalc.org already has)? People (testers as well as developers) could be forced to validate their account every month. This way, projects that are dead would not be listened any more, and lazy testers would not be able to log in (unless they don't ceate another accounte).

I think it's not difficult to create a serious database - the proposals we (boolsoft) made are easily expandible.

I like this idea. I see way too many alphas and betas saying stuff like "A precursor to the Greatest program ever!" or "This is a demo of Zelda in BASIC with 200 layer grayscale!"

Unfortunately, most of these look like really cool projects, but the authors never get around to completing them.

Yeah, it is too bad. There *are* the Programming Ideas/Upcoming Programs forums, which are just what they're talking about, but those seem sort of dead, and half the new posts seem to be n00bs asking for help.

<<Zelda in BASIC with 200 layer grayscale!>>

OMG, if there is such prgm in the archives I die now

Come on, the physical screen couldn't even support that!

My suggestions:

Better searching:
* Ability to choose which calculator or OS you want to find programs for
* Ability to choose file type (e.g. ASM shell, FlashApp misc., BASIC Science program, etc.)

Split the BASIC Misc. directories to more specific directories, for example:
* BASIC Communication programs (chat progs, messaging progs)
* BASIC Time programs (clock progs, countdown progs)
* BASIC Security programs (encryptors, passwd progs)
* BASIC Shells (for all those crappy and less crappy TI-Windowses :P)
* BASIC Word processors

and add Basic music section :-) ^see my author profile, link above

Good idea!

I asked a while back for a BASIC music section.. no such luck so far though :(.. heres why:

http:// www.ticalc.org/archives/ files/fileinfo/ 354/35424.html

It's very nice to make such a poll, but no one changes the site. In fact it's quite useless then...

I read ticalc.org's download amout decreased, so it may be time to renew the site to attract more users.

Crew, please don't ignore the poll results!!!

OK, I'll get a folder setup for this. For anybody who's reading this (and who I'm replying to), if you have any files that are TI-83+ BASIC music files, just e-mail me a link to your author profile.

Although it's questionable whether or not such a directory would be rated (following along with other media directories)

Ah, finally! Thanks for the folder! I just sent you an email..

I sent you one too.

I sent you one too. I have 4 music files in there

The directory has now been created (see link). If you want any files moved to this directory, tell me.