Thought I'd update you on the state of affairs with the work on AIAB.
Apart from the time lost due to the untimely crash of my internet system, I have been continuing to work (I've got more than one computer) on the file analysis as posted in the
AIAB version file check thread.
All package archives have been acquired (newest versions), excepting the ones relating to the 60 files still to be analysed, shouldn't be more that three or four packages to find.
The entire site HTML code has been re-factored and is now W3C strict-xHTML 1.1 compliant based on the HTML 4.01 spec.
I had two major issues with AIAB that for a few days was killing any motivation for the project. These were the licensing of distributions and the future of AIAB.
Let's take the licensing issues first. This basically related to the redistribution of individual files from the third party packages. basically it isn't allowed. The best I can do to comply with this issue is to use two methods.
Method 1:
Older archives will remain as is, no changes, (Except the removal of one piece of commercial software). However the full package archives will be made available for download on the AIAB site, thus complying with the authors wishes in the best way possible.
Only the newest versions of packages will be made available. As many of the older version are not available and I believe this is what the authors would want.
Method 2:
This will relate to any new distribution of AIAB. I can afford to have the older version removed from the site again should an author object to method 1, but I will not take the risk for future versions.
As such all future versions will include the full third-party packages within the AIAB distribution, except those I have received permission for integration. As with method one all the full packages will be available for download from the AIAB site.
Unfortunately this will mean a larger distribution package, around 25MB. This will change back to a smaller archive again (legally), however achieving that is part of a project I'm not ready to announce.
[Edit 12/12/2012] Slight modification of the plan here:
For future version I will create two packages. One will only contain the updated files, same method as with prior distributions. The other will be done as a large package as described above.
This means that should there be a legal requirement to remove the smaller packages then the large package can be uploaded as a replacement. Basically covering my ass.
Note: All shareware will come as originally intended by the author, i.e. any key file required (e.g. for WHDLoad) will require the end user to have purchased one and provide it for the installation process. Otherwise the shareware restrictions will remain in place.
Regarding the second issue. I was in a dilemma as to were to go once a new version of was released, as most of the components are no longer developed. This issue is now resolved and AIAB has a future and a long term plan thanks to the AROS project and all those that contribute to it.
I will not go into details of what the plans are here until I have done some work and have something to show.
Finally:
The honeymoon period is over and the initial excitement of getting a new release and site updates has dissipated and reality has set in.
I have decided that a complete relaunch is necessary to get this project of the ground again. So rather than trying to get everything done
at once piecemeal, I will get all the all analysis done, a new version built, the old archives fixed and website content done and then do a relaunch of the site.
I will however try to get a rebuilt (legalised) r10.6 release back up on the site as soon as possible.
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Topic: AIAB website updates. (Read 11217 times)