Software specifications (was Re: announce : innovation

Peter Murray-Rust (peter@ursus.demon.co.uk)
Sun, 03 May 1998 16:10:19


Thanks for the posting,

At 14:53 03/05/98 +0200, Alain DESEINE wrote:
>innovation Partners and CEI announce IRIS XML DTD GENERATOR beta 1

[... impressive specification of XML tools ...]

I couldn't immediately see a statement of what platforms and/or language
this system uses (Please forgive me if I've missed it). I suggest that
those posting software announcements on XML-DEV include a very short
summary of attributes such as:
- platform
- or language if it can run, or be compiled on multiple platforms
- source availability
- any usage or distribution restrictions
- free or costs-money (no need to give prices).
- any other software required (e.g. uses FOO-XML as a parser, BAR-DSSSL
for stylesheet support, etc.)

This helps some classes of user decide whether it is unnecessary to visit
the site (e.g. can't run on a MAC, etc.). Sometimes (not on XML-DEV :-)
with large downloads I have spent an hour or more (costs money) to find
that the kit could not run on what I have.

It also helps people like Robin Cover and many other who compile lists of
software and related resources.

P.

Peter Murray-Rust, Director Virtual School of Molecular Sciences, domestic
net connection
VSMS http://www.nottingham.ac.uk/vsms, Virtual Hyperglossary
http://www.venus.co.uk/vhg