Forwarded message 1
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LIBWWW SURVEY
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Opens: September 22, 2000
Ends: October 6, 2000
Goal: Get a clear idea of what the libwww user community would like to
do with libwww
Means: Mail your responses to this form to www-lib-survey@w3.org
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[1.0] Who are you and how do you use libwww
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[1.1] Do you develop or have developed applications that use libwww
[x ] Yes
[ ] No
If you didn't answer yes to [1.1], go to section 2.
[1.2] What kind of application (you may cite the name too, if you want)
distributed systems
[1.2] On which platform and environment (mark all that apply)
[x ] X-Windows
[x ] Unix (includes Linux, Solaris, ...)
[ ] Win32
[x ] GTK
[ ] Others (please cite):
[1.3] Which language(s) did you use
[x ] C
[ ] C++
[x] Others (please cite): java
[1.4] How do you rate your programming skills
[x ] Experience programmer
[ ] Average programmer
[ ] Beginner
[1.5] What parts of libww do you use
[x ] XML parser
[ ] RDF parser
[ ] HTML parser
[x ] HTTP
[ ] FTP
[ ] News
[ ] Telnet
[ ] Gopher
[ ] SSL
[ ] Others (please cite):
[1.6] What applications of libwww do you use
[x ] Examples
[ ] Robot
[ ] LineMode parser
[ ] Command line parser
[ ] WinCommander
[1.7] What modifications do you make to the code before you use it?
Used a couple of new functions in HTAccess posted by someone on the
list.
[1.8] If you have any tests for libwww code, what parts of libwww
do you test and are you willing to contribute the tests to
the W3C?
none.
[1.9] Anything else you'd like to say
none.
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[2.0] Your opinion of libwww
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[2.1] In your opinion, libwww is (check all that apply):
[x ] useful to write sample code
[x ] useful for learning how to program a WWW application
[ ] useful to write production code
[ ] Other: please cite
[2.2] Do you find it useful that libwww is written in C
[x ] Yes
[ ] No
[2.3] Please explain your previous answer
better portability and interface with legacy systems
[2.4] Do you feel that libwww too big?
[x ] Yes
[ ] No
[2.5] If so, which parts would you like to remove, or move to other libraries
For example, XML parser should be separated out, instead libwww should
support any XML parsers that conforms to a predefined interface.
[2.6] What are the things that you like the most of libwww
example code.
[2.7] What are the things that you dislike the most of libwww
* "coke machine model" of libwww http requests makes it very difficult
to use them in synchronous manner.
* Also libwww documentation is insufficient, unless the functions
needed are in the example code, it's very hard to find the right one to use.
* Lack of participation of people on the list that knows libwww
internal well
[2.8] What are the things that you would like to change in libwww
support synchronous request model.
[2.9] What are the things you think that libwww are missing
support synchronous request model.
[2.10] Anything else you'd like to say
no.
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Section 3: The future
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[3.1] Let's continue with libwww
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[3.1.1] Do you think it's worth it to have a WWW library?
[x ] Yes
[ ] No
[3.1.2] Do you know of any other similar libraries (please give a URL to
the project if possible)
no, but I'm also looking for one.
[3.1.2] Do you think it's worth it to invest time continuing enhancing
libwww and its architecture.
[x ] Yes
[ ] No
[3.1.3] Are you interested in joining the core team of such a project
(enhancing libwww)?
[ ] Yes
[x ] No
[3.1.4] If you are willing to write some new documentation or improve
existing documentation, which topics are you willing to document?
n/a
[3.1.5] Anything else you'd like to say
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[3.4] Let's invest our forces enhancing an existing project
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[3.4.1] Do you think it's better to enhance another existing project (i.e.,
merge our efforts)
no.
[3.4.2] Are you interested in joining the core team of such a project
(enhancing an existing project)?
[ ] Yes
[x ] No
[3.4.3] Anything else you'd like to say
none.
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[3.5] Let's write it again
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[3.5.1] Do you think the project should stop and start again from a clean
slate?
[x] Yes
[ ] No
[3.5.2] Which language would you use and why (please take into account
portability among systems)?
c or java
[3.5.3] Are you interested in joining the core team of such a project
(starting a new libwww project)?
[ ] Yes
[x ] No
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[3.6] Where to host it
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[3.6.1] Should W3C continue hosting libwww or any other spin-off projects?
[x ] Yes
[ ] No
[3.6.2] SourceForge (SF): How would feel if the W3C transferred libwww to a
SF project?
good idea!
[3.6.3] Are you currently involved with any SF projects?
[ ] Yes
[x ] No
[3.6.4] If so, do you think libwww would fit into that developement paradigm?
[ ] Yes
[ ] No
n/a
[3.6.5] Do you have other suggestions of where libwww should be hosted?
n/a
[3.6.6] Anything else you'd like to say
none.
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[4.0] Your comments
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none.
[4.1] Anything else you'd like to say