Moho Forum

I trust your opinion on copyright for code. I agree with it as well. No argument really.

My main problem right now is my... lack of income. In the past I had income from other sources so doing all of this "free" work for AS and AM was "fun". Now that I don't have the resources to support that I find it to be... a valuable asset that maybe just maybe... I could get compensated for. Every hour I spend on any of this stuff is not just "my spare time". All my time is spare now... I must find a way to turn that in to some form of income.

The whole idea of charging for access to scripts was a really bad idea. I knew it as soon as I posted it that it didn't feel right. I think the idea was that that access would only be part of a larger package that would include lots of other things.

What I SHOULD do is make the scripting section of this site FREE. Then I could have TRAINING videos on how to USE the scripts to do cool things.

-vern

Vern,

I think your knowledge of AS would be invaluable for just about any person on this site, and as long as the fee is reasonable I don't know why most here wouldn't sign up. People are *desperate* for AS tutorials and information, and your knowledge in that regard really should reward you.

If there's anything I can do to help you in any way don't hesitate to let me know, either here or via PM.

I am so sorry to hear about your lack of steady income -- that's something I feel very sensitive to (among the many many hats I've worn in my lifetime I was an employment counselor). These are really tough times and when good people have trouble getting work it's a real shame. But given your talent I'm sure it's only a temporary situation -- hang in there.

Vern, you posted an outline for an AS book. May I make a suggestion. Do a book in chapters. Put them up on lulu.com or some other similar site. If your money situation is that bad you could charge one chapter at a time.

I already have Murdock's book. It, along with the tutorials only cover the basics. An advance book is needed. I have no problem buying a 40 dollar book if I need it.

Just a thought.

Dale

Ok, I just back home, and discussed some ideas with my friend. Here is my proposal.

The idea is to have a page where all who wants to upload a script register on it. All with simple data: name, password and link to its forum profile (and, maybe, link to personal page).

Once you are logged, you can chose upload a script and you must to full the next info:

- Script Name
- Version
- AS version in which works

The idea of complete version is to have a support of old files, for example, for people who still having AS 5.6 when scripts be actualized to version 6.0. So all version will be saved and can be accessed in the future.

- Short description: A short description of what the script does

- Tutorial: A explanation of how the script works. In this section you can add format to the text and images. Even, if we have a good server, could upload videos.

- Image: The author can upload a image which represent what the script does. The image would be resized as 200x200 pixels as max size (maybe more, what do you think about?)

- Category: Author must define if the script is a tool, a menu script or a embedded script.

- Sub-category: refers to more specific info, as painting, drawing, bonning, layer or camera, in case the script be a tool. In case it be embedded or menu script, we must to think about which categories would be correct.

- Changelog: It says what's new and what problems are solved on each version.


Just like authors, users which haven't their own scripts (yet), can register and add comments and votes to each script.
If you click and author, you'll see the scripts he has upload and the link to his profile (to send him privates messages or whatever).
Scripts can be ordered by author, category, data, votes, rate, comments, etc.


Well, that's the idea. If you have some comments, please let me know. With feedback we can make a very good page to finally order all the scripts mess. Now we need some time, so please be patient.

PD: The design of the page will be all with CSS, so we can make it looks just like the forum (so people never will note they are out of SmithMicro's domains )

I like it!

I assume there be a larger "map" view of the hierarchy or navigation?

I would suggest there be another category or "option" for "orphaned" scripts. A type of script that has been abandoned by the author. Other scripters could be encouraged to "fix" or "improve" it. Also many of us will create a script and not have the time or motivation to add new features or improve it beyond its basic functionality.

It would be best to put that in the description so that someone doesn't work on someone else's script to improve it and the author is already doing the same thing. Maybe some kind of post area that says... "hey! I want to add X functionality to this." that way people aren't doing the same thing at the same time.

This is great. It would make the job of categorizing and organizing that HUGE GIGANTIC pile of scripts someone put together much easier. You know that gigantic 32mb file with every Moho/AS script known to mankind floating around on the forum somewhere?

Every once in while I look at that folder of script after script and drool over how it could be organized into a site like this. With something simple like this in place it's so much easier to start cataloging all that stuff.

This is exactly the kind of "blank slate" I was hoping that SM would do for AS scripts.

-vern

Yes, it's good and I suspect once implemented we'll figure out what works, what doesn't, and (possibly) what's missing.

On the subject of "orphaned" scripts -- in many cases we know who wrote these scripts, but they aren't around anymore, or it's impossible to contact them. In those cases I'd suggest a field that allows the author to be "guessed at" and then allow those who actually are those authors to claim ownership if they want.

So in that case you need a checkbox like "Are you the author of this script?" and then the script is *actually* keyed on who uploads it. If an author wants to claim a script there needs to be a process (perhaps an email to the forum admin) that will then allow the "uploader" field to be changed to the author field, if you get my drift.

Mike,

Sounds like a good idea. I doubt it would happen that often. We've only had one "orphaned author" come back (7feet).

I really wish Macton or Crashcore would at least let us know the "status" of their scripts. Like... at least tell use they are done with that sort of thing and don't plan to contribute or... something. All that work... I mean there must be a lot of hours involved in all those scripts they created.

-vern

What if we just register the original authors nicks and pass the password via private message to who wants upload his their scripts?
I remember they are not so many, maybe an option to two o three lost authors simply wouldn't be an useful idea in the future. In the cases of absence of the author, who upload the script must just explicit it in the description that the author is away now.
Let's see: Crashcore, 7feet... I don't remember anyone else right now.

selgin wrote:What if we just register the original authors nicks and pass the password via private message to who wants upload his their scripts?
I remember they are not so many, maybe an option to two o three lost authors simply wouldn't be an useful idea in the future. In the cases of absence of the author, who upload the script must just explicit it in the description that the author is away now.
Let's see: Crashcore, 7feet... I don't remember anyone else right now.

Errr... fazek?

Genete wrote:Errr... fazek?

D'oh!