pericles
Well-Known Member
I downloaded trial copies of ProMash and BeerSmith last week, and it seems like they'd be pretty easy to replicate while adding additional functionality and a more user friendly GUI.
I have a few questions for the group:
I guess I should also ask if there's any interest. I'm a big proponent of open source software, so when there's a duopoly of competing for profit companies, I feel like the DIYers need to step in.
My project concept was this: downloadable stand alone .exe file that can be web enabled to interface with a central website. The .exe file contains a small sample library, and has the functionality of BeerSmith with a cleaner interface. Users can choose to "web enable" their program for free, which gives them the ability to (1) share their saved recipes on the website automatically, and (2) see other users' shared recipes from the website. The website maintains the central library of recipes, and also duplicates the .exe file's functionality - that way you can use the program on your laptop in the garage, AND experiment on the web at work.
Thoughts?
-Jack
I have a few questions for the group:
(1) What's the difference between BeerSmith/Promash and the calculators that are free and online? Beer Calculus for instance?
(2) Where can I find the appropriate equations? The Complete Joy of Homebrewing?
(3) One of the functions I'd like to include is a BIG recipe library. I can do that with my own recipes, obviously, but something that would be neat would be to add a spider to crawl THIS website's recipe section and dynamically add to the program's library. . . who can I talk to here about copyright stuff?
(4) SUGGESTIONS! You guys who use BeerSmith/ProMash: what's bugging you? What would you like different?
(2) Where can I find the appropriate equations? The Complete Joy of Homebrewing?
(3) One of the functions I'd like to include is a BIG recipe library. I can do that with my own recipes, obviously, but something that would be neat would be to add a spider to crawl THIS website's recipe section and dynamically add to the program's library. . . who can I talk to here about copyright stuff?
(4) SUGGESTIONS! You guys who use BeerSmith/ProMash: what's bugging you? What would you like different?
I guess I should also ask if there's any interest. I'm a big proponent of open source software, so when there's a duopoly of competing for profit companies, I feel like the DIYers need to step in.
My project concept was this: downloadable stand alone .exe file that can be web enabled to interface with a central website. The .exe file contains a small sample library, and has the functionality of BeerSmith with a cleaner interface. Users can choose to "web enable" their program for free, which gives them the ability to (1) share their saved recipes on the website automatically, and (2) see other users' shared recipes from the website. The website maintains the central library of recipes, and also duplicates the .exe file's functionality - that way you can use the program on your laptop in the garage, AND experiment on the web at work.
Thoughts?
-Jack