[plt-scheme] Version Check

I'm all for accessing the web on a periodic basis to check for updates
(daily doesn't bother me, but weekly is okay).

The one thing I would like - and it might already do it - is to have an
option that would also check for new pre-release versions.  I tend to have
one of my machines at the latest pre-release.

Doug

> -----Original Message-----
> From: plt-scheme-bounces at list.cs.brown.edu [mailto:plt-scheme-
> bounces at list.cs.brown.edu] On Behalf Of Eli Barzilay
> Sent: Wednesday, April 26, 2006 10:48 AM
> To: plt-scheme at list.cs.brown.edu
> Subject: [plt-scheme] Version Check
> 
> Starting from version 300, DrScheme had the ability to check for a
> newer version every once in a while, but it is turned off by default.
> (You can turn it on using the preferences, in the warnings tab.)
> 
> We are considering turning this on by default, but there are ethical
> and technical issues -- so I'm polling for opinions.
> 
> On the ethical side, the fact that DrScheme does the check means that
> we get some idea of its usage -- seems like this should be documented
> in the DrScheme manual -- some disclaimer that says that this is used
> to check for newer versions, that such data as http log files is never
> given out, and that it might be used to get an estimate of the number
> of users (which is always a necessary argument for getting funds to
> support the project, currently done through tedious guesswork).
> 
> However, if it's only in the manual, it may not be obvious enough, and
> some people may consider this bad ethics.  (Although it seems like
> this is becoming common enough to almost be expected.)  On the other
> hand, some on-first-run dialog is a bad idea since it's one step back
> to the dialog that was unsuccessful in making people choose their
> language level etc.
> 
> As for the technical side -- the current behavior (if turned on) is as
> follows:
> 
> The version is checked when DrScheme starts, but no more than once a
> week.  If you see a newer version -- pop up a dialog with three
> options:
> 
>     *** Outdated PLT Version ***
>     PLT Scheme v317 is now available
> 
>     [Quit & Take Me There]  [[Remind Me Later]]  [Stop Checking]
> 
> The first starts a browser page on download.plt-scheme.org and quits
> DrScheme.  The second one (default button) will make it check again in
> two weeks.  The third one turns off the check.  Closing the dialog or
> hitting escape makes it check again in the next scheduled time (a
> week).  The intention is for a dialog that is as undisturbing as
> possible.
> 
> Some questions about this:
> 
> * Anything wrong in this behavior?  The times?
> 
> * The dialog is a modal dialog, maybe it shouldn't be which will make
>   it possible to just ignore it and continue working.
> 
> * There was a suggestion to have a button that will mean "I know about
>   v317 and I don't want it, remind me when there something newer".
>   The problem here is that the dialog is intended to be minimal, and
>   it will be difficult to explain that on a button label.  (This is
>   why I tried to make it as similar to behavior of existing
>   application, making it look familiar means less explanations
>   needed.)
> 
> --
>           ((lambda (x) (x x)) (lambda (x) (x x)))          Eli Barzilay:
>                   http://www.barzilay.org/                 Maze is Life!
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