Re: PyNGL binaries being moved...

From: Ivan Lima <ivan_at_nyahnyahspammersnyahnyah>
Date: Thu, 7 Apr 2005 16:24:47 -0400

  I'm sure almost everyone finds the new form annoying. But I
  agree with Mary on the importance of keeping good metrics of
  software usage. Otherwise, how are you going to justify to
  managers the amount of resources spent on the development of
  NCL/PyNGL? Particularly given the current tight budgets.
  Filling out an annoying form is a small price to pay to help
  ensure the future of NCL/PyNGL.

  - Ivan

-- 
Ivan Lima
Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, MC&G MS #25
360 Woods Hole Road, Woods Hole, MA 02543-1543 USA
On Thu, Apr 07, 2005, Mary Haley wrote: 
> 
> Hi Jeff,
> 
> No, unfortunately you are not the only one that finds this annoying.
> 
> I'll give you the same answer that I gave to an NCL user who was also
> NOT happy when we moved the NCL binaries to the ESG website:
> 
> Metrics of software usage have become very important for top NCAR/UCAR
> managers, and our old style of allowing people to download software
> without any verification was giving us terrible metrics.  We had no
> way to verify whether the people coming in were repeat users, new
> users, or people just goofing off. People were not required to fill
> out the form or even enter in a valid email address, so much of the
> information was bogus.
> 
> With the new system, we can get much better metrics and give better
> reports to our managers of how many people are downloading PyNGL and
> NCL and what kind of science it is being used for.  This kind of
> information is becoming essential to the future of NCL and PyNGL.
> 
> We have been keeping a close eye on how users react to this new method
> of downloading binaries.  We've done this for about two months with
> NCL, and have received only a couple of complaints that I can
> remember. (I have to admit, though, one of the complaints was rather
> strong).
> 
> It is our hope that in the spirit of getting this software for free,
> users will be willing to go the extra step to register and give us
> more information on how they use NCL or PyNGL.
> 
> Thanks for your comments, Jeff. I would love to hear from others how
> they feel about this, both positive and negative.
> 
> --Mary
> 
> 
> On Thu, 7 Apr 2005, Jeff Whitaker wrote:
> 
> >Mary Haley wrote:
> >
> > >
> > >Dear PyNGL testers/users,
> > >
> > >Two announcements: we now have a PyNGL binary for Cygwin, and the
> > >PyNGL binaries have been moved (the Cywin binary is in the new
> > >location).
> > >
> > >In an attempt to collect better metrics on PyNGL usage and thus
> > >determine future directions for PyNGL, we are moving the PyNGL
> > >binaries to the Earth System Grid (http://www.earthsystemgrid.org/)
> > >website, effective immediately.  (We recently did the same thing with
> > >the NCL binaries.)
> > >
> > >For those of you unfamiliar with the Earth System Grid:
> > >
> > >    The Earth System Grid (ESG) integrates supercomputers with
> > >    large-scale data and analysis servers located at numerous national
> > >    labs and research centers to create a powerful environment for
> > >    next generation climate research.
> > >
> > >Downloading PyNGL from the ESG requires an account registration with a
> > >name and password, and a short form to fill out.  Somewhere in the
> > >"Statement of work" field, please indicate that you are a PyNGL
> > >user. If you have already registered on the ESG for NCL downloads,
> > >then you don't need to register separately for PyNGL downloads.
> >
> >
> >Am I the only one who finds this highly annoying?  Another survey to fill 
> >out, another password to remember.  It's only going to discourage people 
> >from using NCL/PyNGL, and for what?  Better metrics?  Phhpt. 
> >-Jeff
> >
> >-- 
> >Jeffrey S. Whitaker         Phone  : (303)497-6313
> >Meteorologist               FAX    : (303)497-6449
> >NOAA/OAR/CDC  R/CDC1        Email  : Jeffrey.S.Whitaker_at_noaa.gov
> >325 Broadway                Office : Skaggs Research Cntr 1D-124
> >Boulder, CO, USA 80303-3328 Web    : http://tinyurl.com/5telg
> >
> >_______________________________________________
> >pyngl-talk mailing list
> >pyngl-talk_at_ucar.edu
> >http://mailman.ucar.edu/mailman/listinfo/pyngl-talk
> >
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Received on Thu Apr 07 2005 - 14:24:47 MDT

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