Monday, September 15, 2008

What Is A Great Software Project?

MTG Forge is interesting because it gives me a different idea of what software development actually is. I receive feedback from users and I create new versions of MTG Forge with more cards and bug fixes. This is a continual cycle of feedback and program updates that all software projects have. Traditionally the cycle between feedback and software updates has been lengthy, but MTG Forge is updated at least monthly.

MTG Forge is free and is an open source project, meaning that anyone can look at the code and submit updates or use the code for their own project. While the source code is still complicated, like the engine of a car, a person can just update part of the code and doesn’t have to understand the whole thing. Recently a reader updated the user interface to show the small card pictures, thanks Nantuko. (Thankfully MTG Forge is a little bit flexible.)

Like Napster, a great software project does something that people really want. People love music, so they also loved Napster. People love Magic, so they like MTG Forge. MTG Forge is an approximation of a real game. MTG Forge is far from perfect but it still lets people experience the excitement of winning with only 1 life point left.

What is your favorite piece of software? Is it a Mac, a videogame, or just regular e-mail?

5 comments:

Jesse said...

I would like a version control system. I posted to the forum about this.

Gando the Wandering Fool said...

Currently Ive Been enjoying a spin off of the Angband games called Portralis. It has its own world and magic/races/classes unique to that world and one guy who is maintaining/programming it, doing a great deal of work to improve it. It was initially NewAngband but has gone way beyond that.

Forge said...

Gando, that sounds interesting, you should post a link

Forge said...

Version control is my weakness, lol, I wouldn't mind someone taking over the version 1 project and using whatever version control that they want to.

Gando the Wandering Fool said...

http://variaz.proboards3.com this is the forums for portralis. You can get all the info needed there.