Application categorization
- Andrew Lee
- Posts: 3063
- Joined: Sat Feb 04, 2006 9:19 am
- Contact:
- teobromina
- Posts: 172
- Joined: Tue Jan 02, 2007 12:12 pm
- Location: Spain
Simpler is always better
With the purpose to help: I think that any classification is arbitrary. Thus the more sophisticated is the classification the more arbitrary. I would preffer a simpler classification. For instance I am in favor to keep the 15 main classes without subclasses. More than 1000 as we have at present is something not useful.
As information: I am currently using only 5 classes with my collection of hundreds of programs, that are related to the kind of files they manage:
-EDIT for programs that serve as main purpose to edit a 'static' text or a document. The files they use to open and transform are: TXT, INI, LOG, C, HTML, RTF, DOC, PDF, and so on...
-IMAGE for programs that edit 'static' images: BMP, JPG, TIFF, PSD, etc...
-PIM for programs which deal with Personal (and Professional) Information, including spreadsheets, contact-managers, databases, browsers, servers: TXT, SQL, DBF, MDB, HTML, PHP, etc...
-PLAY for programs that open and work with 'streams' or that serve information sequentially, including players, speak-machines, games, language trainers, astronomy simulators, readers and education apps: AVI, MP3, WMA, WMV, etc...
-SYSTEM for programs that serve to tweak or clean or improve the control on the operating system: Registry files, Virus files, MBR and Partition files, etc...
I understand that someone else needs more classes, but I am 'playing' with programs and making test the last years (since the 'venerable' windows 95) and I arrived to this conclusion, after trying lots of possible choices, just one year ago
In conclussion, although I do not need any classification at all thaks to the very efficient work of the search engine in the site, my vote goes to simplify as much as possible.
Sorry if my emphasys could offend to somebody but it is not my intention, but on the contrary to help to improve...
Regards.
*JT.
As information: I am currently using only 5 classes with my collection of hundreds of programs, that are related to the kind of files they manage:
-EDIT for programs that serve as main purpose to edit a 'static' text or a document. The files they use to open and transform are: TXT, INI, LOG, C, HTML, RTF, DOC, PDF, and so on...
-IMAGE for programs that edit 'static' images: BMP, JPG, TIFF, PSD, etc...
-PIM for programs which deal with Personal (and Professional) Information, including spreadsheets, contact-managers, databases, browsers, servers: TXT, SQL, DBF, MDB, HTML, PHP, etc...
-PLAY for programs that open and work with 'streams' or that serve information sequentially, including players, speak-machines, games, language trainers, astronomy simulators, readers and education apps: AVI, MP3, WMA, WMV, etc...
-SYSTEM for programs that serve to tweak or clean or improve the control on the operating system: Registry files, Virus files, MBR and Partition files, etc...
I understand that someone else needs more classes, but I am 'playing' with programs and making test the last years (since the 'venerable' windows 95) and I arrived to this conclusion, after trying lots of possible choices, just one year ago
In conclussion, although I do not need any classification at all thaks to the very efficient work of the search engine in the site, my vote goes to simplify as much as possible.
Sorry if my emphasys could offend to somebody but it is not my intention, but on the contrary to help to improve...
Regards.
*JT.
simple categorization
@Teobromina: As I see it, the biggest problem with your approach is that the program listing view is limited to 5 results. With over 1000 programs in the database, classification into 15 categories would mean on average 12+ pages of results in each category.
If Andrew expanded each page to include 10 results, it would still mean 6 pages to look through if you're looking for a particular type of program, and it would also mean the need to at least scan the descriptions of each of them to see if it had the specific function you were looking for. It might be nice to change result pages to brief listings one or two lines apiece in order to fit more results on each page, but it would require pretty much a complete site redesign.
I think your idea of limited categorization is more useful for a personal database where you can recognize each result by name, but it's not as useful for browsing and discovery.
If Andrew expanded each page to include 10 results, it would still mean 6 pages to look through if you're looking for a particular type of program, and it would also mean the need to at least scan the descriptions of each of them to see if it had the specific function you were looking for. It might be nice to change result pages to brief listings one or two lines apiece in order to fit more results on each page, but it would require pretty much a complete site redesign.
I think your idea of limited categorization is more useful for a personal database where you can recognize each result by name, but it's not as useful for browsing and discovery.
- teobromina
- Posts: 172
- Joined: Tue Jan 02, 2007 12:12 pm
- Location: Spain
Re: simple categorization
OK, you are right, my classification fits better for a personal collection. But look at the page of Freeware World Team:ashghost wrote: I think your idea of limited categorization is more useful for a personal database where you can recognize each result by name, but it's not as useful for browsing and discovery.
http://www.all4you.dk/FreewareWorld/links.php
They have two dozens of categories and a database. If you want to open a 'full' category, you can browse lots of pages of the same type, at a rate of 10 entries each. If the search in the database is not selective, the same thing happens, but if you perform a more selective search, then you can get sometimes a few or very limited number of results...
This is what I mean.
Thank you.
*JT.
Re: Application categorization
Nice work you have done ;)
I have a suggestion !
Can you add a new entry under categories: named: Others - Multiple Catalogers
I have a suggestion !
Can you add a new entry under categories: named: Others - Multiple Catalogers
Re: Application categorization
What's that? Example?Wolfghost wrote:Can you add a new entry under categories: named: Others - Multiple Catalogers
Re: Application categorization
webfork wrote:What's that? Example?Wolfghost wrote:Can you add a new entry under categories: named: Others - Multiple Catalogers
Data Crow
Re: Application categorization
Oh duh. This should have sounded familiar.
Do any other software fit into this or is it just Data Crow?
Do any other software fit into this or is it just Data Crow?
Re: Application categorization
Never mind, just forget it !!webfork wrote:Oh duh. This should have sounded familiar.
Do any other software fit into this or is it just Data Crow?
Re: Application categorization
MyLib seems to (http://www.portablefreeware.com/index.php?id=795)Wolfghost wrote:Do any other software fit into this or is it just Data Crow?
Re: Application categorization
Ok good start for a new entry I think ;) (allready 2 prog)webfork wrote:MyLib seems to (http://www.portablefreeware.com/index.php?id=795)Wolfghost wrote:Do any other software fit into this or is it just Data Crow?
- Andrew Lee
- Posts: 3063
- Joined: Sat Feb 04, 2006 9:19 am
- Contact:
Re: Application categorization
Done. I have added the following:
* Audio - Catalogers
* CD/DVD - Catalogers
* Others - Multiple Catalogers
* Audio - Catalogers
* CD/DVD - Catalogers
* Others - Multiple Catalogers