Counting since 9.11.2005 <http://lipas.uwasa.fi/~ts/garbinfo/garb2010.html> Copyright © 1996-2007 by Prof. Timo Salmi Last modified Fri 2-Mar-2007 18:54:17

About "nag" and "demo" in Garbo's file list

Please note that there is nothing negative meant by the "nag" and "demo" designators, nor are they meant to influence the authors' choice of shareware payment inducements.

If our long-time conventions and usages sound unacceptable to an author, there is no reason to get upset by our usages. Simply regard Garbo archives as an unsuitable alternative for the submissions in that case.

Nagware: Y/N

• (Answer Yes if the software displays registration reminders or if it requires the user to type in extra characters which are not necessary in the registered version or if it induces delays in the unregistered version. If you are not sure, answer Yes.)

1) When a demonstration program is of exceptional general or some other special interest to our archives.

In the case of #1 being fulfilled there are further considerations:

2) When a shareware program is crippled in some important dimension like not being able to save its data, is severely limited in its dimensions (e.g. an editor with 100 line-capacity) etc.

3) When the initial or ending delays of the registration reminders have been made so long that the program effectively freezes the user's computer for e.g. a whole minute(s).

The /pc/demo directory is a respectable, in fact even an exclusive directory. It is not a dump of ill repute to get upset about.

From: ts(ät)uwasa.fi (Timo Salmi)
Subject: Re: What is nagware?
To: A Garbo User
Date: Sat, 7 May 1994 10:12:27 +0300 (EET DST)

It is a general terms for a program nagging the user to register or otherwise persistently reminding her/him with some delay-tactics that the program is shareware. On Garbo, specifically, the /pc/UPTEXT.TXT recommended announcement formula has an item that states.

Nagware: Y/N

• (Answer Yes if the software displays registration reminders or if it requires the user to type in extra characters which are not necessary in the registered version or if it induces delays in the unregistered version. If you are not sure, answer Yes.)

One the other hand one must understand the authors. I am not going to lecture on morality, and I hope that the eternal question of registering shareware will not be (again) debated, but my own position is very clear. Duly observe the shareware rules when you download material from Garbo.

It the case of Macsee you have to wade through consecutive initial screen by hitting the enter key some 3-4 before you can start using the program. This is a very slight form of nag, but a nag nevertheless. This does not take anything away from the fact that Macsee is a very fine program.

Incidentally, there are other "wares" in the jargon. Crippleware is quite a common method on the shareware scene. A crippled program is a program that does not fully perform all the functions that render the program useful. Drawing the line is not always easy, but if the registered version has enhancements, or more capacity than the shareware version, this does not automatically imply that the circulated version is crippled. One example is (was) my own tslin34.zip Linear Programming package which is on the borderline. It is fully functional handling up to 80*25 matrixes while the registered version as a capacity of 80*120. The former is quite sufficient for the ordinary classroom usage, which is the intended usage of this program.

Some others, besides nagware and crippleware are abandonware, cardware, charityware, commentware, deadware, demoware, donationware, expireware, fatware, freeware, guessware, guiltware, homeware, hostageware, hypeware, payware, reminderware, shelfware, shovelware, snareware, vaporware, nowhere (just joking) etc. What each means I'll leave for the gentle readers to ponder.