steve8x8 / geotoad

Geocaching query tool written in Ruby
https://buymeacoffee.com/steve8x8
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28 stars 8 forks source link

How to stop users from downloading and running obsolete versions? #289

Closed GoogleCodeExporter closed 9 years ago

GoogleCodeExporter commented 9 years ago
My download stats http://steve8x8.faehrwiese.selfhost.me/my-geotoad/dlcount/ 
show that even with 3.18.1 available for a month, people keep downloading (and 
probably trying to use) older versions (back to 3.16.9 and probably even beyond 
that).

While the occasional download may be used for "educational purposes" (no one 
wants to stop you from diff-ing versions - hint: SVN is a lot more suited for 
this), in general this makes no sense: If a change in GC's user interface broke 
the most recent version, there's no point in getting an older one - "it might 
just work"... No, it won't.

I'm running out of ideas how to prevent users from downloading an obsolete 
version (just because it's listed on a dubious "free software" page) and 
getting frustrated because it doesn't work. (Almost no one seems to actually 
read GeoToad output?)

Now, I'm thinking about sending a clear message: If there's a new version 
that's clearly flagged as "superseding all", older versions would just refuse 
to start - not without telling the user so, of course. What do you think?

Original issue reported on code.google.com by Steve8x8 on 21 Nov 2013 at 8:56

GoogleCodeExporter commented 9 years ago
Am I right that many people use the TUI, and just *ignore* the text telling 
them about new versions? (It's not a shame to follow outdated links. All those 
"free software" portals do an amazing job trying to keep track of new versions, 
but occasionally miss one.)
Would the requirement to just press Enter before starting the user interface 
make a difference?

Original comment by Steve8x8 on 5 Dec 2013 at 9:01

GoogleCodeExporter commented 9 years ago
Three stages:
a. explicit warning that everything older than the current version is obsolete 
(no action taken yet) - committed
b. force TUI users to read and press Enter
c. self-destruct sequence

Original comment by Steve8x8 on 13 Dec 2013 at 11:59

GoogleCodeExporter commented 9 years ago
People don't read - that's what I get from running a download mirror clearly 
flagged as "emergency". They just click the first link on freecode.com they get 
their mouse on. Or, even worse, they download everything from that poor little 
server sitting at the remote end of a very thin line. In parallel, of course. 
No comment :(

Original comment by Steve8x8 on 6 Jan 2014 at 2:02