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From: kovar@popvax.harvard.edu (David C. Kovar)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.mac
Subject: Priority scheme for comp.sys.mac.binaries?
Message-ID: <1330@husc6.harvard.edu>
Date: 21 Jan 90 13:05:34 GMT
Sender: news@husc6.harvard.edu
Reply-To: kovar@popvax.harvard.edu (David C. Kovar)
Organization: Health Sciences Computing Facility, Harvard University
Lines: 47


  I've been complaining about the stuff showing up in comp.sys.mac.binaries
with out providing any possibile solutions other than "keep demos out."
Not terribly helpful on my part. Cory Kempf suggested to me that a priority
scheme might work and I tend to agree with him. Several classifications
could be created and all submissions could be catagorized on submission.
So, instead of one queue, multiple queues would be running. When the highest
priority queue was exhaused, stuff would come out of the next one. (This
is hardly original thinking, of course.) Given the available bandwidth,
some things might never get out, but at least they'd still have a chance
and the "important" stuff might get out sooner. Defining "important" is
the trick. I'll suggest the following with the assumption that suggestions
for changes will swamp me. None of this is binding, of course, as I don't
have any control over the distribution itself.

Classifications:
  1) Latest virus software or items of similar nature.
  2) Original freeware that fits in one article.
  3) Original shareware that fits in one article.
  4) One article items that don't fit in above classifications.
  4) Multipart freeware. [Technotes included.]
  5) Multipart shareware.
  6) Demo/crippleware.

  I remember when Macintosh binaries first started appearing on the net
and then when the first multipart binaries started appearing. Looking back on
those times it seems that a lot of the best stuff fit into one article.
With StuffIt available, even some reasonably sizeable packages will fit into
one article. These smaller packages frequently fill a gap in commercial or
are an example of something new and innovative. The larger ones are frequently
demos, technical notes (something large that I *do* like to see), and games.
(Exceptions do exist, of course.) As I'd prefer to see the gaps filled and
innovative ideas, my classification scheme favors such things. It also should
enable more people to get their ideas out rapidly. 

  Questions, comments, flames, etc most welcome.



-David C. Kovar
	Consultant				ARPA: kovar@popvax.harvard.edu
	Eclectic Associates			BITNET: corwin@harvarda.bitnet
	Ma Bell: 617-646-0428			MacNET: DKovar

         "It is easier to get forgiveness than permission."

[All opinions expressed are my own. Noone else assumes responsibility for me.]