Software Development Initiative FAQ

Questions

  1. What is the ASCII-World Software Development Initiative?
  2. Who created the ASCII-World Software Development Initiative?
  3. How do you define an ASCII or Text Program?
  4. What categories of programs do you have and accept for the S.D.I.?
  5. What software licensing schemes do you accept?
  6. What about programs made by other authors than me?
  7. How can I help you with this effort?
  8. How can I send you my submission?
  9. What Information do you need for a file submission?
  10. Is there any preferred programming language or OS?
  11. Is there anything else we should know before submitting something to the S.D.I.?
  12. Do I have to relinquish my rights to what I submit to the S.D.I.?
  13. But what if I really do want to relinquish my rights?

Answers


1. What is the ASCII-World Software Development Initiative?

The ASCII-World Software Development Initiative is an effort created to attempt to find, collect, categorize and host past, current and future ASCII / Text applications and games.

In essence, the creators of ASCII-World don't wish to see a single ASCII/Text based program disappear from the face the earth. As such, we are researching what programs are out there, and seeing about having them hosted here, on ASCII-World under the S.D.I. initiative so that they can get a permanent resting home so to speak.

But it doesn't stop there People are development text based programs and games today, as we speak, and we would also like these to be available through our initiative to all our visitors.

Back to Top


2. Who created the ASCII-World Software Development Initiative?

The ASCII-World Software Development Initiative was created by the authors of ASCII World itself. They are Stephane Richard (MystikShadows) and Kristian Virtanen (E.K.Virtanen). The original idea for the S.D.I. was created by Stephane Richard after he started noticing that some text programs and games weren't available anymore even those on websites that have been there in what seemed forever were starting to disappear. Therefore, the S.D.I. saw the light of day, out of necessity to make sure these programs had a place where they could be hosted permanently.

Back to Top


3. How do you define an ASCII or Text Program?

To us, an ASCII/Text program is a program that does not rely on graphics as it's main user interface component. Therefore, DOS programs, Windows Console mode programs, OS/2 Console programs and Linux console (terminal) programs are all accepted. As well, any other non mentioned OS that supports console mode operations will be accepted though we don't expect that many entries in these other OSes. There's more than one text based character sets as well, ASCII, ANSI, all POSIX compatible programs all fit in the description of what makes an ASCII/Text based program or game.

Back to Top


4. What categories of programs do you have and accept for the S.D.I.?

Any type of program can be added to the S.D.I. This includes, but is not limited to, business applications, tools and utilities, pass through programs (basically programs that take some input (keyboard or file) does some filtering or processing and produces an output (to screen or file), any games imaginable and others.

The only real rule we have is that the game or program be natively in Text/ASCII/ANSI mode for the most part. For example, programs like Lotus 123 which is a text program that offers some graphic output (for charts and graphs) would be accepted. But in essence, if it's a text or ASCII Graphics based program, it belongs in the S.D.I.

Back to Top


5. What software licensing schemes do you accept?

Any software that has any license can be submitted to us. We accept Shareware, freeware, OpenSource and commercial licensed software. However, in the case of commercial and shareware licenses, we will get in touch with you to make sure all rights are respected on our parts. We most certainly don't want to infringe any type of copyrights here.

No commercial programs will be published until we get an official authorization to do so from the copyright holders (unless perhaps the copyright holders can't be reached because they, or the company they represent is out of existence AND their rights to the submission not sold to other companies).

Back to Top


6. What about programs made by other authors than me?

You can submit any program you think is worthy of the ASCII-World S.D.I. Initiative. However, if you are not the author of the submitted program, it will not be published until we have reached the author (unless the program is licensed in such a way that we are allowed to simply publish it such as any OpenSource licensing scheme or public domain programs could/would be published immediately).

For other licenses we will contact the author of the program and see with him if we are authorized to make his/her program available through the S.D.I. and if the author gives us permission we will then publish the submission.

Back to Top


7. How can I help you with this effort?

There is more than one way that you can help us. There is a lot of material to find out there on the internet. You can, for instance, take the time to do searches on Google, Yahoo and other search engines to help us find programs you think should appear in the S.D.I. You can also create programs if you want (see the S.D.I. Projects Page for examples) and submit them to us. If you have a program and wish it to be available through our S.D.I. just contact us with the info and relative links and we will add them as soon as possible.

Back to Top


8. How can I send you my submission?

There are more than one way to send us your submissions. he important thing is that we get the program you are submitting so we can add them to the S.D.I. Catalog. Here are some of the most recommended means of linking us to the download file.

  • Email Attachment: Just send us an email with the relevant information (see next question below) and your file as an attachment and we'll take care of the rest.
  • Online File Services: These are websites that exist only to send files to other people, services such as FileWind and You Send it are two of the more known means of doing so.
  • Link to the file on your server: The classic way which involves zipping and uploading the file to your own server and send us a link to it so we can download it from your site. We want to host all files locally so that you don't have to suffer the traffic caused by the downloads.

We used to have an online file download system. But after a few weeks, some hacker decided to cause a lot of problems using this service which almost caused our server to be terminated, hence, such services will not be added again unless we know for sure that it is a very secure way of uploading files.

Back to Top


9. What Information do you need for a file submission?

When you are submitting a program or game for the S.D.I. Initiative we would like to have some minimal information so that we can categorize and properly insert the submission where it belongs. The needed information is as follows:

  • The name of the program
  • The Type of Program: (game, tool, application, utility, etc…)
  • Program's domain (if it's a tool, it might be a file or database tool, a tool to generate graphics, ect…)
  • The last known version of the program
  • The name and contact information of the author of the submission (even if it's you)
  • If including the source code, the programming language and environment used as well as the version used.
  • The platforms developed for (hence whatever OS that is able to run your program)
  • The license Type: (commercial, freeware, shareware, name of the OpenSource License if any, etc)
  • Description of the program (one paragraph medium size to describe it clearly)

With this information, we will be able to create a product entry page suitable for viewing by all our visitors that is clear and concise to read to get a quick but complete glimpse of what the program is all about.

This is if you are submitting a program that you made yourself. If you are submitting someone else's program you don't have to do all this work, just send us a link to the program and we'll gather this information ourself.

Back to Top


10. Is there any preferred programming language or OS?

Absolutely not. We accept programs and games written in any programming language (assembler, BASIC, Pascal, Ada, Modula, C/C++ and any other language not mentioned here). As far as the target OS goes, again, no preferences as long as it is a text program, that's all we need to know. So if you have a program or know of a program or game that fits the S.D.I. description, let us know about it and if copyrights and licenses allow it will get published, simple as that.

Back to Top


11. Is there anything else we should know before submitting something to the S.D.I.?

Yes, for one thing, we will not tolerate any attempt at warez related operations. This is unconditional and final: no warez. Also, for the sake of keeping this site professional and safe we will not accept any submission that have to do with porn related subjects. Finally we have no prejudice, any game or contents relating to any form of racism will not be accepted or posted in the S.D.I. initative.

Back to Top


12. Do I have to relinquish my rights to what I submit to the S.D.I.?

Not at all, The projects and programs offered in the S.D.I. belong to the authors, not us. This is a general rule of thumb. So you are not forced to do anything. Think of the S.D.I. as "yet another way" of making your programs available to people. The program belongs to you and any copyright you have on it will be respected as per the chosen licensing scheme.

Since one can submit another one's work we will reach the actual author of the project, when needed, to make sure that everything respects the author's wishes on the project at hand. Should, for any reason, you find something there that belongs to you that you did not give permission yourself for us to offer it, email us and it will be taken down promptly.

Back to Top


13. But what if I really do want to relinquish my rights?

The choice is of course entirely up to you. If you have a public domain or any OpenSource License that your program is offered under, there's not much to do, we'll just host it as is and whoever wants to continue work where you left off will be able to do so as per your Licensing scheme.

If you are the author of a commercial program and wish to essentially give it up but don't want it lost. One thing you could do is release your source code as an OpenSource project using any of the OpenSource licenses available. This will allow other people looking at your project to take it on and maybe create a newer version of it. This is by far the best way because no matter what they add to your projects, you still remain the original author of the code base and will get recognized for any work that you put into it. Changes brought by someone else are treated separately in this case and his "copyrights" only apply to the parts of your program that were changed by him. A great way to keep getting recognition for all the hard work you put into your project.

Back to Top

Unless otherwise stated, the content of this page is licensed under Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 2.5 License.