Feedback from tucows.

From: Martin Sevior (msevior@mccubbin.ph.unimelb.edu.au)
Date: Tue May 21 2002 - 22:28:31 EDT

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    Hi Folks,
            I recently submitted the windows version of AbiWord to tucows.com
    for inclusion in it's download site.

    It appears that we could significantly enhance our rating with
    some additional user help tools.

    These would be:

    Tips on start up.
    Tutorial.
    emebdded IRC client.

    I dunno if I want the last one. It would imply that there are people on
    IRC reasonabally frequently to answer questions.

    In any case I *think* these are all good features to help our target
    market. It is very interesting to note that tucows gives less than half
    it's points to measuring if the program actually does anything
    useful. The vast majority are for making the application user friendly.

    Here is the full response I got:

    -------------------------------------------------------------------
    Dear Author:
     
    Thank you for submitting your program to Tucows. We are pleased to
    announce
    that your program has been accepted into our library.
     
    The following review report indicates how your program scored.
     
    Install: 2
    Documentation and Help: 3
    Customer Support: 1
    Reviewer's Checklist: 14
    Uninstall: 2
     
    Total = 22
     
    22 to 25 points = 3-cow rating
    26 to 30 points = 4-cow rating
    31 and higher points = 5-cow rating
     
    Note that we will not entertain any debate or discussion regarding the
    Reviewer's Checklist score. Also, allow between 7-10 days to see your
    listing on our What's New page.
     
    If you wish to provide a link back to Tucows, please use one of the images
    available through the ARC (also available at
    http://www.tucows.com/link.html). If you wish to link directly to your
    program's preview page, please contact developer@tucows.com. We have
    provided you with the necessary HTML code below. All you have to do is
    replace the image's name.
     
    <a href="http://www.tucows.com"><img src="IMAGE_NAME_HERE.jpg"
    border="0"></a>
     
    Please use the ARC http://author.tucows.com, for any future program
    updates.
     
    For further information on our scoring procedure, please see the Ratings
    Guide available in the ARC.
     
    If you have any questions or concerns, feel free to e-mail our Developer
    Relations team at developer@tucows.com.
     
    Thank you for your interest in Tucows.
     
    Sincerely,
     
    The Tucows Review Staff
    ---------------------------------------------------------------------

    OK now here are the criteria used to rate applications:

    # How does Tucows rate programs?

    How does Tucows rate Internet browser and Microsoft Office add-on
    programs?

    Remember, Tucows is not just a download site -- we actually review your
    applications. Don't use Tucows if you just want a pat on the back. We will
    give you an honest opinion of your software based on our established
    evaluation criteria.

    We rate and review based on the following guidelines. When reading these
    guidelines, try not to get hung up on any one review item. You do not need
    the maximum number of points in any category to get a five-cow
    rating. Some of these points are clearly subjective. Remember, we are
    reviewing your application. By definition, all reviews contain
    subjectivity.

    It is our sincere hope that our evaluation of your program helps you
    provide better software for your customers. Bear in mind that our criteria
    are dynamic. This being the case, we welcome your ideas for improvements
    or modifications. If you have suggestions, please let us know.

    Because each of the download libraries on Tucows are as unique as the
    operating systems they support, there are significant differences in how
    those applications are evaluated. Please refer to the appropriate ratings
    guide for the library most closely matched to your product.

    At the reviewer's discretion, programs can be rejected for incoherent
    descriptions and/or descriptions comprised entirely of marketing-style
    language. Program descriptions should concretely describe to users what
    the programs do, and they should be as objective as possible.
    Ratings guide for general Windows applications

        # Reviewer checklist
          (23 possible points)

             1. This program has unique features (two points possible)
             2. This program has a professional-looking interface (two points
    possible)
             3. This program has a reasonable file size for its sub-section
    (two points possible)
             4. How it compares to other programs in this section. One point
    is awarded automatically if this is the only program in a section (two
    points possible)
             5. This program has tips on start up (0 = No, 2 = Yes)
             6. This program contains third-party applications (-1 = User
    cannot disable this; 0 = It does contain them but you can shut them off; 2
    = It does not contain them)
             7. This program has a professional-looking home page containing
    relevant information. Also, the program must be easy to find on this page
    (three points possible)
             8. This program is easy to use (three points possible)
             9. A note of the general impression and reviewer's overall
    recommendation of this program (three points possible)
            10. Microsoft Certified Partner authors will receive two bonus
    points. This must be proven in the software submission. While we are not
    affiliated with Microsoft, these bonus points are made available due to
    the extensive testing that a program must endure to meet Microsoft's
    certification requirements. (0 = No, 2= Yes)

        # Install
          (four possible points)
              * 0 points = The software author provides no installation
    mechanism with this program
              * 1 point = This software installs, but it neither creates nor
    provides the option to create a desktop shortcut icon, a quick launch bar
    or a Start menu program group selection (optional)
              * 2 points = This program meets the one-point criteria and
    provides a shortcut icon, a program group or some similar convenience.
              * 3 points = This program meets the two-point criteria and
    includes help files, readme text or other forms of documentation to help
    the end user.
              * 4 points = This program meets the three-point criteria and
    provides one of the following during the installation
    process: step-by-step wizards, voice instruction, or some other type of
    multimedia tutorial.

        # Documentation and help
          (five possible points)
              * 0 points = The software author provides no help
              * 1 point = The software author provides some form of help, but
    it is not apparent on the user interface
              * 2 points = The software author provides help built in to the
    program. This may not be skipped. If you merely link your help to an
    online help site without including local help files you don't get credit
    for three points
              * 3 points = This software meets the two-point criteria and
    includes online help. This can be skipped if the application meets the
    four-point criteria
              * 4 points = This software meets the two-point criteria and
    provides tutorials
        * 5 points = The software meets the four-point criteria and provides
    Flash-style, multimedia demonstrations, or some form of professional
    visual intensive tutorial that aids in rapid learning of the program's
    basic operation. It includes professional, complete documentation and help
    covering all aspects of issues a user will encounter in downloading,
    operating, registering, upgrading, getting support, and otherwise
    interacting with the program and the publisher of the program. Essential
    to professional are proper grammer, spelling, writing style, no broken
    links, and intelligient and attractive layout and formatting

        # Customer support
          (five possible points)
              * 0 points = No customer support is provided
              * 1 point = Technical support is provided by e-mail only
              * 3 points = Technical support is provided by e-mail and through
    the program interface
        * 5 points = Three-point support criteria has been met and there is
    also telephone, fax, forum, live chat or some other form of technical
    support

        # Uninstall
          (four possible points)
              * 0 points = The software author provides no means to uninstall
    this program or it cannot be uninstalled
              * 1 points = This program adds an uninstall feature to the
    Add/Remove Programs utility; however, it leaves traces of the uninstalled
    program behind. Also, the program's automatic uninstall will remove all
    aspects of a program that have not been modified by the user and a custom
    uninstall option exists to remove all files
              * 2 points = This program meets the one-point criteria and
    completely removes all traces of itself from the hard drive
              * 3 points = This program meets the two-point criteria and can
    perform repairs, but it leaves traces of itself on the hard drive. An
    added option to keep or save the data is preferred
              * 4 points = This program meets the three-point criteria and
    uninstalls itself from the hard drive completely. It also provides the
    option to repair and modify itself

    Rating scale based on total points
    22 to 25 points = 3-cow rating
    26 to 30 points = 4-cow rating
    31 or more points = 5-cow rating

    # How does Tucows rate Internet browser and Microsoft Office add-on
    programs?

    Remember, Tucows is not just a download site -- we actually review your
    applications. Don't use Tucows if you just want a pat on the back. We will
    give you an honest opinion of your software based on our established
    evaluation criteria.

    We rate and review based on the following guidelines. When reading these
    guidelines, try not to get hung up on any one review item. You do not need
    the maximum number of points in any category to get a five-cow
    rating. Some of these points are clearly subjective. Remember, we are
    reviewing your application. By definition, all reviews contain
    subjectivity.

    It is our sincere hope that our evaluation of your program helps you
    provide better software for your customers. Bear in mind that our criteria
    are dynamic. This being the case, we welcome your ideas for improvements
    or modifications. If you have suggestions, please let us know.

    Because each of the download libraries on Tucows are as unique as the
    operating systems they support, there are significant differences in how
    those applications are evaluated. Please refer to the appropriate ratings
    guide for the library most closely matched to your product.

    Note that add-ons can be rejected based on file size. Rejections of this
    type are based solely on the reviewer's discretion.

    Ratings guide for Internet browser and Microsoft Office add-on
    applications

        # Reviewer checklist
          (23 possible points)

             1. This program has unique features (two points possible)
             2. This program has a professional-looking interface or can
    enhance the existing interface (two points possible)
             3. This program has a reasonable file size for its sub-section
    (two points possible)
             4. How it compares to other programs in this section. One point
    is awarded automatically if this is the only program in a section (two
    points possible)
             5. Does this program install correctly? (two points possible)
             6. This program contains third-party applications (-1 = User
    cannot disable this; 0 = It does contain them but you can shut them off; 2
    = It does not contain them)
             7. This program has a professional-looking home page containing
    relevant information. Also, the program must be easy to find on this page
    (three points possible)
             8. This program is easy to use (three points possible)
             9. A note of the general impression and reviewer's overall
    recommendation of this program (three points possible)
            10. Microsoft Certified Partner authors will receive two bonus
    points. This must be proven in the software submission. While we are not
    affiliated with Microsoft, these bonus points are made available due to
    the extensive testing that a program must endure to meet Microsoft's
    certification requirements. (0 = No, 2= Yes)

        # Documentation and help
          (five possible points)
              * 0 points = The software author provides no help
              * 1 point = The software author provides some form of help, but
    it is not apparent on the user interface
              * 2 points = The software author provides help built in to the
    program. This may not be skipped. If you merely link your help to an
    online help site without including local help files you don't get credit
    for three points
              * 3 points = This software meets the two-point criteria and
    includes online help. This can be skipped if the application meets the
    four-point criteria
              * 4 points = This software meets the two-point criteria and
    provides tutorials
        * 5 points = The software meets the four-point criteria and provides
    Flash-style, multimedia demonstrations, or some form of professional
    visual intensive tutorial that aids in rapid learning of the program's
    basic operation. It includes professional, complete documentation and help
    covering all aspects of issues user will encounter in downloading,
    operating, registering, upgrading, getting support, and otherwise
    interacting with the program and the publisher of the program. Essential
    to professional, are proper grammer, spelling, writing style, no broken
    links, and intelligient and attractive layout and formatting

        # Customer support
          (five possible points)
              * 0 points = No customer support is provided
              * 1 point = Technical support is provided by e-mail only
              * 3 points = Technical support is provided by e-mail and through
    the program interface
        * 5 points = Three-point support criteria has been met and there is
    also telephone, fax, forum, live chat or some other form of technical
    support

        # Uninstall
          (four possible points)
              * 0 points = The software author provides no means to uninstall
    this program or it cannot be uninstalled
              * 1 points = This program adds an uninstall feature to the
    Add/Remove Programs utility; however, it leaves traces of the uninstalled
    program behind. Also, the program's automatic uninstall will remove all
    aspects of a program that have not been modified by the user and a custom
    uninstall option exists to remove all files
              * 2 points = This program meets the one-point criteria and
    completely removes all traces of itself from the hard drive
              * 3 points = This program meets the two-point criteria and can
    perform repairs, but it leaves traces of itself on the hard drive. An
    added option to keep or save the data is preferred
              * 4 points = This program meets the three-point criteria and
    uninstalls itself from the hard drive completely. It also provides the
    option to repair and modify itself



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