[www-lib-survey] <none>

> =====================================
>              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)

robot and download functionality

>
>
> [1.2] On which platform and environment (mark all that apply)
>
> [ ] X-Windows
> [ ] Unix (includes Linux, Solaris, ...)
> [x] Win32
> [ ] GTK
> [ ] Others (please cite):
>
> [1.3] Which language(s) did you use
>
> [x] C
> [ ] C++
> [ ] Others (please cite):
>
> [1.4] How do you rate your programming skills
>
> [ ] Experience programmer
> [x] Average programmer
> [ ] Beginner
>
> [1.5] What parts of libww do you use
>
> [ ] XML parser
> [ ] RDF parser
> [x] HTML parser
> [x] HTTP
> [x] FTP
> [ ] News
> [ ] Telnet
> [ ] Gopher
> [ ] SSL
> [ ] Others (please cite):
>
> [1.6] What applications of libwww do you use
>
> [x] Examples
> [x] Robot
> [ ] LineMode parser
> [ ] Command line parser
> [ ] WinCommander
>
> [1.7] What modifications do you make to the code before you use it?

eventloop, build a static version of the library

>
>
> [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?

the robot is my test environment

>
>
> [1.9] Anything else you'd like to say
>
> ---------------------------------------------------------------------
> [2.0] Your opinion of libwww
> ---------------------------------------------------------------------
>
> [2.1] In your opinion, libwww is (check all that apply):
>
> [x] useful to write sample code
> [ ] 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

C is my favorite programming language :-)

>
>
> [2.4] Do you feel that libwww too big?

It's not only to big, it is too complicated. Especially the eventloop part
and the way the different modules work together.
You easily get lost and drowned in the streams.

>
>
> [x] Yes
> [ ] No
>
> [2.5] If so, which parts would you like to remove, or move to other
libraries

The eventloop, all protocols except ftp and http(s)

>
>
> [2.6] What are the things that you like the most of libwww

the callback functions philosophy

>
>
> [2.7] What are the things that you dislike the most of libwww

the eventloop, the lack of meaningfull comments, the usually complicated
call-stack with a lot of wrapper functions.
The permanent threat by deadlocks and blocking situations which are nearly
impossible to locate. (What can anyone do if the robot hangs after a ten
minutes run?)
Debugging an application using libwww is a horror.

>
>
> [2.8] What are the things that you would like to change in libwww

The handling of parallel events. (Threads)


>
>
> [2.9] What are the things you think that libwww are missing

a better support for ssl

>
>
> [2.10] Anything else you'd like to say

I would like to emphasize a recent comment:
libwww is not really a library, it is an application allowing to extend
parts of its functionality by callback functions

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

something easy/easier to use and to understand.

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

I don't know.

>
>
> [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)

not just libraries. (I doubt that libwww is a library - see 2.10) Some of
the functionality I have seen in perl (CPAN), apache http://www.apache.org  and
ht-dig: http://www.htdig.org/

>
>
> [3.1.2] Do you think it's worth it to invest time continuing enhancing
>         libwww and its architecture.
>
> [ ] Yes 
> [ ] No
  [x] Maybe (if we come to a more stable state)
>
> [3.1.3] Are you interested in joining the core team of such a project
>         (enhancing libwww)?
>
> [ ] Yes
> [x] No (I am too old)
>
> [3.1.4]  If you are willing to write some new documentation or improve
>          existing documentation, which topics are you willing to document?

a. I understand too little of the inner working of libwww.
b. I am not a native english speaker.

>
>
> [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)
>
> [3.4.2] Are you interested in joining the core team of such a project
>         (enhancing an existing project)?
>
> [ ] Yes
> [ ] No
>
> [3.4.3] Anything else you'd like to say:

the only parts of libwww that are useful for me outside the context of
libwww are the string handling and parsing functions

>
>
>
> ---------------------------------------------------------------------
> [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)?

java

>
>
> [3.5.3] Are you interested in joining the core team of such a project
>         (starting a new libwww project)?
>
> [ ] Yes
> [ ] 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?
>
> [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
>
> [3.6.5] Do you have other suggestions of where libwww should be hosted?
>
> [3.6.6] Anything else you'd like to say
>
> ---------------------------------------------------------------------
> [4.0] Your comments
> ---------------------------------------------------------------------

>
>
> [4.1] Anything else you'd like to say

I think it is a good idea to launch this survey.
Thank you.

Received on Monday, 25 September 2000 03:58:05 UTC