[MacLoggerContest] Contest coverage and configuration

[Jack Brindle]

I don't think I can pass this one up...

On Feb 6, 2005, at 3:26 PM, Jonathan G0DVJ wrote:

> 4)  Assuming we achieve the configuration of the contest in a typical 
> Mac style user friendly way, is there any worth in using standards to 
> specify and record these definitions of configurations?   I have been 
> discussing this aspect at length with Jack W6FB - and although 
> something like XML is an option, we have virtually concluded that this 
> would be overkill and of little value at this point in time.

Actually, my viewpoint is that while XML might be useful, I believe 
that we need an application that allows the user to create and 
configure a contest, then write that info to a file (in _some_ format) 
that s/he or others might use. One such user might be the contest 
sponsor who would create a contest configuration file that I might 
import before the contest. The application would then interpret the 
data, setting thing up the way I wanted, but keeping the rules of the 
contest intact. In the absence of such a file, I could use the same 
application to create a configuration file for the contest (and being 
the nice guy I am, I would post it for others to use ;-) ). I'm not 
sure i care what the file's format actually is, as long as the contest 
application can use it.

>  Most software currently uses its own file format.  I see the more 
> important aspect as how we make it easy for people to set up for XYZ 
> contest (i.e. the config files are supplied but details hidden from 
> user selection) and also allow new configurations to be defined and 
> added to the distribution as time goes on to accommodate rule changes 
> and new contest events.  Maybe initially at least, as many existing 
> contest loggers do, the latter aspect of changing and adding support 
> for new event types could be left to the software author in order that 
> we don't end up with lots of people all using some supplied config 
> facility to create similar but slightly different and to varying 
> degrees untested versions of the setup data files for the same contest 
> :)
> What do others think?

One thing here of importance is that we do not wish to 're-invent the 
wheel." There are quite a few files that are commonly used in the PC 
world (cty.dta, etc) that we really _do_ want to use. Some of the 
formats are readily available, others require digging. But these are 
important, containing data we need.

As for contest configuration files, perhaps this is an area we can help 
to standardize and give back to the PC folks.

by the way, i find the PC authors to be helpful for our efforts. As 
long as we are not directly competing with them (different platform), 
then they are willing to help. Even then, there is a lot of cooperation 
between those folks. Amazingly friendly and helpful, these folks called 
hams!

-Jack Brindle, W6FB
=======================================================================