[clug] How you know your Free or Open Source Software Project is doomed to FAIL

Ivan Lazar Miljenovic ivan.miljenovic at gmail.com
Tue Jul 28 21:08:05 UTC 2015


On 29 July 2015 at 01:55, Scott Ferguson <scott.ferguson.clug at gmail.com> wrote:
> A list of indicators that may interest some list readers:-
>
> http://spot.livejournal.com/308370.html?nojs=1
>
>
> Some excerpts:-
>
> == Building From Source ==
> * There is no documentation on how to build from source [ +20 points of
> FAIL ]
> * If documentation exists on how to build from source, but it doesn't
> work [ +10 points of FAIL ]
> * Your source isn't configurable [ +50 points of FAIL ]

Is a configurable build really necessary?  Especially for smaller
projects, or ones written in something like Python or Perl where the
libraries are typically smaller and more focused.

> * Your source only builds with third-party proprietary build tools [ +50
> points of FAIL ]
> * You've written your own build tool for this code [ +100 points of FAIL ]
>
> === Code Oddities ===
> * Your code depends on Microsoft Visual Anything [ +100 points of FAIL ]
>
> == Documentation ==
> * Your code doesn't have a changelog [+10 points of FAIL]
> * Your code doesn't have any documentation [ +20 points of FAIL ]
> * Your website doesn't have any documentation [ +30 points of FAIL ]

What happens if you don't have a website? Does every little library
need one? Or does a project page on your VCS hosting sufficient?

>
> === FAIL METER ===
> 0 points of FAIL: Perfect! All signs point to success!
> 5-25 points of FAIL: You're probably doing okay, but you could be better.
> 30-60 points of FAIL: Babies cry when your code is downloaded
> 65-90 points of FAIL: Kittens die when your code is downloaded

Tempting... ;-)

> 95-130 points of FAIL: HONK HONK. THE FAILBOAT HAS ARRIVED!
> 135+ points of FAIL: So much fail, your code should have its own reality
> TV show.
>
>
>
> Kind regards
>
> --
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> linux at lists.samba.org
> https://lists.samba.org/mailman/listinfo/linux



-- 
Ivan Lazar Miljenovic
Ivan.Miljenovic at gmail.com
http://IvanMiljenovic.wordpress.com



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