Software

Software: Singular values for releases

2008-06-17T18:51:32.0012Z

Just editing the topic for "Mozilla Firefox" and noticed that the following properties of the "Software" type permit multiples but probably shouldn't:

* first released
* latest release
* latest release date

Any thoughts on making these singular?

Software: Operating systems as software

2008-04-21T16:28:11.0007Z

Hi Erik,

I think that Windows is more of a special case in this situation in that that distribution _is_ the software, more because of business reasons than technical ones. You are probably right that the additional type is unnecessary and I dont really have a use case to demonstrate otherwise, but I feel that this difference should be kept in mind in the event that someone has a legitimate use for a different type.

Thanks.

Software: Operating systems as software

2008-04-19T17:04:11.0007Z

depends, Ubuntu is a software distribution, while Linux is definitely a piece of software. I would also call Windows software. I think it is unnecessary to have a separate type for this kind of software.

Software: File Formats

2007-10-23T01:12:47.0007Z

I'd like to see file formats (covering the permutations of read, edit/write, etc.) added as a property or properties of the Software type. Aseem, I agree that CVT seems the right way to handle it. Let me know how I can help.

Software: Rename "Compatible OSes" to "Compatible Operating Systems"

2007-10-04T21:44:56.0000Z

Good point! Done.

Software: Rename "Compatible OSes" to "Compatible Operating Systems"

2007-09-30T20:38:17.0012Z

The word "OSes" seems unnecessarily obscure when we could just say "Operating Systems".

Software: Add Programming Language

2007-08-14T03:06:11.0000Z

Never thought about it like that ... OK, will try this soon.

Software: Add Programming Language

2007-08-08T16:15:24.0007Z

IMO a compiler is any entity (mostly a software program) that translates, some high-level instructions to low-level machine instructions that then direct the actions of the machines. From that perspective, an FPGA or an ASIC device is also a compiler that publishes a high level (from its perspective) instruction set that can be used to define a set of actions which it will then translate and execute. It may very well be that the ASIC design was translated from something like Verilog or VHDL to a fabrication unit by yet another piece of software.

An argument can certainly be made that this is an overly broad interpretation of the concept of the compiler, however I think in the long run a more generic approach to modelling may be more useful. Moreover its quite easy (though a bit more work) to type something as a compiler and software, than include software within the compiler type and have to change it because there are newer technologies that challenge that specific structure and relationship.

In any case, I would encourage you to model the compiler type, include the software type in it, and instantiate some topics with the type. Once it works for you we can revisit this specific issue.

HTH

Software: Add Programming Language

2007-08-08T00:39:58.0000Z

But isn't a Compiler always Software? I'd think that a Compiler type should include Software as an Included Type, similar to how the Deceased Person type has Person as an Included Type ... that way any Compiler is automatically Software. Does that make sense?

Software: Add Programming Language

2007-08-07T16:03:23.0007Z

The way to think about types and classes in Freebase is 'co-typing' instead of a traditional inheritance tree. So software does not need to be a subclass of Compiler. If a compiler type has sufficient unique properties to warrant its own type, you should create the type, and then when we want to classify a piece of software as a compiler (e.g. gcc) we just type it as Compiler along-with software.

HTH

Software: Add Programming Language

2007-08-07T00:40:10.0007Z

For this to work, "Compiler" would have to be a type, which includes (subclasses) Software ... is this worth doing?

Software: Add Programming Language

2007-08-07T00:37:12.0007Z

I assume that this means the language that the software is programmed in. For compilers and interpreters, how about an additional field of "Language Supported"? I'll try adding this to the compiler definition.

Software: Are ports and extensions a genre, or something else?

2007-07-19T22:53:29.0007Z

I think ports ought to be typed as software, simply because they are standalone pieces of software that do not need the 'parent' software to function. We probably ought to think about software genealogy in terms of inherited code, however I think that specifying inheritance has certain implications (especially when talking about commercial software) that may make the modelling effort a bit problematic. For e.g. how do you model SQL2005 and Sybase. Sure the former has had previous versions that were directly derived from the latter, but this suggests that as if SQL2005 there is almost no Sybase code in there anymore. One possible solution is to shift the problem upstream and say that SQL 2005 is a different product of the same 'family', which might solve these types of problems. Regarding extensions, I think we need a new type for that. Mainly because there are lots of extensions that are developed by developers who are not part of the original group (e.g. Autocad/Photoshop plugins) however they need the original software to function in any meaningful way. I am working on those and we should have them shortly.

Software: Are ports and extensions a genre, or something else?

2007-07-19T21:38:20.0011Z

For example, I've typed Selenium and Watir as being in the Test Automation and Free Software genres. In addition, both of them have close relatives. E.g. FireWatir and SafariWatir port Watir to automating additional browsers, where some code is directly inherited from Watir, while the browser-specific code is not. In addition, Watir has been ported to Java as Watij and .NET as Watin. How should we model this? Do we want software to include a branched to/from relationship?

Software: Protocols

2007-06-29T01:29:57.0007Z

I think that the original intent was to specify what sort communication protocols are used by the software and/or what communication protocols are serviced by a software. However I don't think either of those properties has been specified for any of the software categorized. It is a good candidate for removal, pending some discussion with the original designer. Thanks for bringing it to our attention.

Software: Protocols

2007-06-28T12:52:27.0007Z

Anyone?

Software: File Formats

2007-06-18T18:58:06.0006Z

That's a good point that the relationship or "verb" between a format and the software that interacts with it could be a pretty elaborate type in itself. That mediator type would be a natural spot for a lot of good documentation.
Thanks by the way for making me go and really learn what a mediator is on freebase.

Software: Operating systems as software

2007-06-10T06:00:44.0011Z

I am not sure if operating systems can be classified as software. They are definitely bundles of software but not really software. Maybe a software distribution type is more general?

Software: File Formats

2007-05-25T21:40:22.0006Z

I think a mediator between instances of software and the file format with a specific type of action like read, write, render, play, execute etc. would be better in this case. A lot of software applications can do one, more or all of the actions with one or more file formats (for e.g. image editing programs), in which case the action could be just as important as the file format.

AM

Software: File Formats

2007-05-25T20:44:13.0011Z

I like this type and i'm using it in a file format schema - i'd love to get it to link back to my file formats.

Software: Add Programming Language

2007-05-25T19:39:17.0006Z

Good point. I just added languages used to software type.

Software: Protocols

2007-05-25T14:51:21.0011Z

What are Protocols Provider & Protocols Used? It looks like they can be applied to Communication Software only?

Software: Add Programming Language

2007-05-11T03:33:55.0006Z

I agree -- the primary programming language should be an optional piece of data.

Software: Version and release date

2007-05-04T06:40:56.0012Z

Should version and release date be a compound value? They seem to go together so closely.

Software: 'Software' should support version trees and bundles

2007-05-02T21:14:55.0012Z

I think 'Latest Version' should be removed and replaced with the properties; 'Version Number', 'Includes Versions'. This would make it similar to how the '/computer/operating_system' type works now.
Also, there should be a 'Bundles' property which links to topics of the 'Software' type. This allows for the representation of "Microsoft Office bundles Microsoft Word"

Software: Add Programming Language

2007-03-29T22:49:53.0012Z

Not applicable for all software but quite a bit. Not sure if it should be abstracted down.