MAST by ANT

[Willallison]

we're drifting somewhat off topic here ... but do you guys know anywhere that you can register a domain name for free?

[safewalrus]

Maybe I'm just a cantankerous old bastard (well the wife is nodding her head in the background so someone agrees with me for a change!) but I still subscribe to the "there's no such thing as a free lunch" theory. OK, I'm a grouch and I'll go with you guys but I still feel that the pay stuff is in a diferant league to the freebies ........sorrrrrry

[BillyDoc]

Aw, come on Walrus, we know you're a pussycat at heart!

And it isn't a free lunch. It's a situation where both parties gain! How many times have you helped someone here on this forum for free, just because you are obviously (sorry to say this out loud Walrus, but you really ought to face the nasty fact) a nice guy. YOU felt good being helpful, and the person you helped got the "free lunch." A win-win situation for sure, and a very big part of what being human is really about. The sociopaths out there trying to rip off everyone really don't know what they are missing. Personally, I think they are incomplete humans and to be pitied

Bill

[Nels Tomlinson]

Originally Posted by safewalrus

... I still subscribe to the "there's no such thing as a free lunch" theory.

The reason that you can get decent free software is this:

If you write a program which does something useful, you can:

1) keep it to yourself. There is no gain or loss to this option.
2) give it away to anyone who will take it. This option has no downside, since it doesn't preclude option 3, and at least a small chance of some upside.
3) try to sell it. This requires risking capital with littel chance of success.

Experience (other's, not mine) shows that option 2 might get you some free programming help from folks who like your work well enough to use it, and program well enough to fix bugs and add features and some non-programming users who will field-test your work.

If you are careful about copyright issues, there is no reason that you can't also sell a version of your program, once the free version has drummed up some demand.

Experience (other's, not mine) shows that option 1 gets you no where free and option 3 is very likely to get you no where at great cost.

Originally Posted by safewalrus

... OK, I'm a grouch and I'll go with you guys but I still feel that the pay stuff is in a diferant league to the freebies ........sorrrrrry

Oh, everyone agrees with you on that. It's absolutely in a different league. In many areas, for many purposes, the libre stuff is head and shoulders above the pay stuff. The only areas where the pay stuff is unambiguously better than the libre for all uses are areas where there is no mature libre product.

Apache, R (the statistical programming language) the BSD and Linux operating systems, the LaTeX typesetting system, Openoffice and perhaps someday Freeship are examples of mature or nearly so packages which can far outshine the commercial equivalents for many users.

That doesn't mean that there is any libre package which will be optimal for you, of course, but many folks would rather do without computers than go back to that buggy, overpriced, under-featured commercial crap.

Nels

[safewalrus]

Look fella's I like being a grouchy old git, so you enjoy your freeware (guess yor probably right) and I'll sit in the corner mumbling - OK

[Nels Tomlinson]

Originally Posted by safewalrus

Look fella's I like being a grouchy old git, so you enjoy your freeware (guess yor probably right) and I'll sit in the corner mumbling - OK

Gee, Safewalrus, I sure hope I didn't spoil your fun. I like to have a good grumble myself sometimes. I just wanted to point out to folks that even though ``no free lunch'' is as true as ever, programs are different than hamburgers, and the no free lunch principle applies a little differently there.

By the way, I'm not critical of folks who don't use the libre programs: they definitely aren't right for everyone.

Nels

[BillyDoc]

Originally Posted by safewalrus

Look fella's I like being a grouchy old git,

Damn, Walrus, I guess I owe you an apology!

So, OK, you’re NOT a nice guy. Just a grumpy old git (whatever that is). I’m so sorry to have offended you.


Bill

[safewalrus]

Gee thanks Bill, so glad you see it my way - trouble is it gives me nothing to grumble about!

I'm sure some poor unsuspecting sucker will come along soon!!!

[BillyDoc]

We've got PLENTY to grumble about!

And you're right, there's one born every minute.

Bill

[safewalrus]

You don't say, time I took me a vacation to the sun I think!

"I don't suffer from insanity - I'm enjoying every minute of it!"

[sorenfdk]

Just to get back on track...

I mailed the people at A.N.T. and a very kind person there mailed me back and told me, that the two Mastruct programs are not based on ABS rules, but on the method described in Larsson & Eliasson: "Principles of Yacht Design". This method is taken from the "Nordic Boat Standard".

[Willallison]

Good job Soren!
(safewalrus...and I bet they didn't even send him a bill! )

[sorenfdk]

Nope - no bills yet