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How Do You Find the Right Tool for the Right Job ?

Posted by Cliff on from the share-your-secrets dept.

Arthur B. asks: "Whenever I try to find a software product, I find myself browsing SourceForge, but it's really hard to find something, when I only know the features I want and not the name of the project. It's hard, once I find a software, to gather information about it's reliability (is it a huge collaborative OSS project, an IT giant driven project or an end of term student project). The same is true about package trees in Linux distros. I'd like to ask the crowd: Where do you pick your software (be it commercial or not)? How do you compare different products? How do you know what a software does exactly before using it? Does a website provide this kind of help? Please let me know your tips and tricks."

5 of 63 comments (clear)

  1. Usenet... by gowen · · Score: 5, Interesting

    I know it's unfashionable, but uk.comp.os.linux is an incredibly good place to hear the pluses and minuses of any software for any task you desire. There are some really helpful/knowledgeable people there.

    --
    Athletic Scholarships to universities make as much sense as academic scholarships to sports teams.
  2. Freshmeat by slashflood · · Score: 4, Informative

    Get an account on Freshmeat, so you can sort the results of a query by rating, popularity and vitality.

    Stay informed and up-to-date all the time and not only if you've been delegated to a project.

    1. Re:Freshmeat by toddbu · · Score: 4, Insightful

      But don't stop there. Type the name of the package into Google and look at the number of results that come back. Browse the results and see how many of these are requests for help. Check the answers to see if they make sense, which means that there are knowledgeable people willing to help. Finally, check the date/time stamps to find current queries.

      --
      If you don't want crime to pay, let the government run it.
  3. I do this a lot by L.+VeGas · · Score: 4, Informative

    I do this a lot.
    I run a freeware review site [blatant plug] , and I basically scour delicious.org/popular and software, digg.com / software , freshmeat, FileForum Beta News and a few others. I download 'em, try em, and see what's what. It's a little easier for me because I'm limited to freeware, but these are good places to start.

    --
    Best Windows Freeware
  4. The zen of jedgment by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 4, Funny

    Acolyte: Master, how can I be sure I have good judgement?

    Wiseman: You will gain good judgment only with experience.

    Acolyte: How do I obtain this experience?

    Wiseman: Bad judgement.