LIBWWW SURVEY (fwd)

Forwarded message 1

  • From: jose.kahan@w3.org <jose.kahan@w3.org>
  • Date: Fri, 22 Sep 2000 10:36:23 +0200 (MET DST)
  • Subject: LIBWWW SURVEY
  • To: www-lib@w3.org
  • Message-Id: <200009220836.KAA19121@tuvalu.inrialpes.fr>
=====================================
             LIBWWW SURVEY
=====================================

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

---------------------------------------------------------------------
[1.0] Who are you and how do you use libwww
---------------------------------------------------------------------

[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.

---------------------------------------------------------------------
[2.0] Your opinion of libwww
---------------------------------------------------------------------

[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.

---------------------------------------------------------------------
Section 3: The future
---------------------------------------------------------------------

---------------------------------------------------------------------
[3.1] Let's continue with libwww
---------------------------------------------------------------------

[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

---------------------------------------------------------------------
[3.4] Let's invest our forces enhancing an existing project
---------------------------------------------------------------------

[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.

---------------------------------------------------------------------
[3.5] Let's write it again
---------------------------------------------------------------------

[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

---------------------------------------------------------------------
[3.6] Where to host it
---------------------------------------------------------------------

[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.

---------------------------------------------------------------------
[4.0] Your comments
---------------------------------------------------------------------

none.

[4.1] Anything else you'd like to say
-- 
/tonyl

Received on Friday, 22 September 2000 13:12:30 UTC