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- Clipper Project From: Howard Kapustein
- Memo #2: Formal announcement Date: 05/02/1987
-
- To: All
-
- For those of you interested in the Clipper Project, here's some
- information:
-
- 1. UDF contributions should follow the format outlined in the file
- CPM1.ARC (CP Memo #1: Contributions). This is the generally
- suggested format, as well as more info about contributions.
-
- 2. I've uploaded the first release of my library, HKLIB01.ARC. Yes,
- it's version 0.10. The only reason I released it now was so people
- could have some samples for the contribution format.
-
- 3. As of today, May 1, 1987, CP is officially underway. As I have
- the time and am willing to make the commitment, I will take the
- position editor-in-chief. I'd like to keep this rather informal,
- and titles won't really matter much except as a general division
- of labor. The difference between editor-in-chief and a normal
- editor is in the case of disputes, decisions, etc. I'll be making
- the final decision.
-
- 4. I'm looking for people willing to put in some time for CP. There will
- be 3 general types of, well, workers sounds rather formal, and you
- won't be volunteers. Let us say patrons:
-
- Contributor: you have something to contribute. Aside from
- sending the contribution to CP, nothing else
- is expected of you.
-
- Beta-Tester: like a part-time editor or editor's assistant,
- you will beta-test some routines, check out some
- file(s)/routine(s), etc. A beta-tester can do more
- than just check programs. Being a beta-tester is
- like being a part-time editor. For those of you
- who would like to do something, but don't really
- have the time.
-
- Editor: being an editor entails: sorting contributions, documenting,
- contacting people, etc. The editors are the ones who will
- be doing most of the real work to get the book done, with
- help from beta-testers. I hesitate to say it, but an editor
- is like a full-time beta-tester. Please don't jump when
- I say full-time. All it means is that it will require more
- than just an hour a month. I am a college student, but
- I realize that most people who would volunteer won't have
- as much time available as I do, and even I have other
- things in my life besides this book. The difference between
- an editor and a beta-tester is that editors will be doing
- pretty much what I'll be doing: going through the
- contributions and sifting the good from the bad from the
- salvageable on a semi-regular basis, while beta-testers
- will be doing it on an occaisional basis.
-
- None of these are "assigned" titles, they're just rough estimates
- of what you can do. One day you might be an editor, and if something
- comes up and you no longer have the time, no problem. I'd rather
- the book comes along slowly but right, instead of being a rush job
- patched together.
-
- 5. Money. Let me mention it now and get it over with.
-
- I'm sure every one of you has read this and wondered why should
- you spend your valuable time. The answer is simple: besides
- spreading information about Clipper, it can be profitable (I hope.)
- I have every intention of putting together a quality book and
- getting it published, but for some time there will be no money
- seen. If, at some time there is income (i.e. someone wants to
- publish CP) the people who have contributed to CP will get their
- just deserts. Contributors will probably get a fee proportional
- to their contribution and editors, having put in more time, will
- receive a larger share of the pie, with beta-testers falling somewhere
- in between. But remember, I'm a college student. Until such time
- as we have income, I can't afford to subsidize expenses.
-
- So what does this mean?
-
- Until there is income, there will be no outcome.
-
- For now, you must content yourself with sharing information with
- the potential of future monetary returns. I will be doing as much
- work as anyone else, if not more, without any income to pay for
- my expenses either. Sure, I hope to get paid for my work, but not
- for quite some time, and not until CP is the best it can be.
-
- 5.1 This is why it's important that all contributions include your name,
- address and phone number. All those who deserve credit shall receive
- it, but I can only do so if I know who you are and where to contact
- you.
-
- 6. All items of interest concerning CP will be posted on The BOSS
- (201) 568-7293. Feel free to upload and download them among
- bulletin boards, as long as no fee is charged and all Copright
- notices are left intact.