CFOG's PIP, December 1986, Volume 5 No. 2, Whole No. 50, page 7

Guidelines for the Submission of Public Domain Software

by Terry Smythe, Sysop, Z-Node 40

[This message appears in the Pdguid#1.lbr, along with some suggested guidelines that Terry Smythe has written. Depending on space, the suggested guidelines themselves may appear in this issue or the next. Comments added to the library by others will be published later. -- bhc]

As Sysop of Z-Node 40, I often acquire new software that is difficult to use or put up onto my Board. It has the appearance of being worthwhile, but the manner in which it has been put together leaves very much to be desired.

I have never seen a set of standards that authors can use as guidelines for the development and packaging of their product. The quality and variety of what I receive in fact clearly reflects the absence of such a document.

Therefore, the purposes of this library file is to facilitate the compilation of a set of standards for this purpose. I am prepared to provoke and administer this project, and I appeal to authors everywhere to contribute their thoughts and ideas. All will be credited.

I doubt the project will ever be completed, and perhaps this is healthy, for evolution will continue to provide new opportunities to develop and refine these standards.

If you have a contribution to make, simply add it into this library file, increment its release number, and upload it to the Board you got it from, or to me directly: Terry Smythe, Sysop, Z-Node 40, 55 Rowand Avenue, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada R3N 2N6. By telephone, (204) 832-3982 (Voice), (204) 832-4593 (Z-Node).

Somewhere along the line, I will compile the contributions of all into a set of formal standards for the guidance of all, and upload it into the system at a number of points. When that will be is uncertain, but Jan/Feb 87 appears to be a reasonable target time frame.

CFOG's PIP, December 1986, Volume 5 No. 2, Whole No. 50, page 7

A Few Notable Quotes from Osborne Users of Toronto

"What is an elephant, but a mouse with an IBM operating system." Anon.

"The generation of random numbers is too important to be left to chance." Robert R. Coveyou, Oak Ridge National Laboratory.