Interested in developing a successor to ECCO

Discussion:

Randy Erickson

2012-06-10 00:14:54 UTC

Hello,
I'm new to this group but an old hand at ECCO. I've been using it since it's inception. And I believe the outlining function in ECCO has not been replicated in any other product on Windows or Mac. I'm interested in exploring whether an app can be developed to build on the ease-of-use and intuitive aspects of the ECCO outliner. And that app should be available on Mac, Window, IOS and Android. If anyone is interested in pursuing this then please contact me.

Best Regards,
Randy

Randy Erickson

torandyerickson-***@public.gmane.org

mpastrone

2012-06-11 01:44:15 UTC

Permalink

This gets proposed every five years. You got $100K to start? Any experience developing windows apps? Otherwise, its a very nice thought.

Post by Randy Erickson
Hello,
I'm new to this group but an old hand at ECCO. I've been using it since it's inception. And I believe the outlining function in ECCO has not been replicated in any other product on Windows or Mac. I'm interested in exploring whether an app can be developed to build on the ease-of-use and intuitive aspects of the ECCO outliner. And that app should be available on Mac, Window, IOS and Android. If anyone is interested in pursuing this then please contact me.
Best Regards,
Randy
Randy Erickson

Randy Erickson

2012-06-12 01:30:14 UTC

Permalink

I'm talking only the Notepad functionality. So I'm thinking that it may not cost $100k. I have over 25 years of experience in software development but fully expect to outsource the entire development. Do you have any contacts, references or other information that might be helpful?

Best Regards,
Randy

Randy Erickson
505.730.8195
torandyerickson-***@public.gmane.org

On Jun 10, 2012, at 7:44 PM, mpastrone wrote:

This gets proposed every five years. You got $100K to start? Any experience developing windows apps? Otherwise, its a very nice thought.

hogsmile-/

2012-06-12 06:22:28 UTC

Permalink

The intellectual property rights are probably so convoluted and unclear at this point that the main product you'd end up developing would be interminable litigation. Litigants claiming to be ECCO patent holders or their successors, or aggrieved parties in some way would literally come out of the woodwork. You'd spend so much time and money on patent litigation -- mostly just answering complaints and civil filings to avoid default judgments -- that you (or your corporation) would soon be bankrupt.

Sent from my iPad

Post by Randy Erickson
I'm talking only the Notepad functionality. So I'm thinking that it may not cost $100k. I have over 25 years of experience in software development but fully expect to outsource the entire development. Do you have any contacts, references or other information that might be helpful?
Best Regards,
Randy
Randy Erickson
505.730.8195
This gets proposed every five years. You got $100K to start? Any experience developing windows apps? Otherwise, its a very nice thought.

Randy Erickson

2012-06-14 00:43:05 UTC

Permalink

There is nothing proprietary about the fundamentals of outlining. There are hundreds of apps that expand and collapse outlines, indent, outdent, add children or siblings, etc. Nor in the ability to cross-reference but perhaps in the way that cross-referencing is done.

Best Regards,
Randy

Randy Erickson
505.730.8195
torandyerickson-***@public.gmane.org

On Jun 12, 2012, at 12:22 AM, hogsmile-/***@public.gmane.org wrote:

The intellectual property rights are probably so convoluted and unclear at this point that the main product you'd end up developing would be interminable litigation. Litigants claiming to be ECCO patent holders or their successors, or aggrieved parties in some way would literally come out of the woodwork. You'd spend so much time and money on patent litigation -- mostly just answering complaints and civil filings to avoid default judgments -- that you (or your corporation) would soon be bankrupt.

Sent from my iPad

Carl Greene

2012-06-11 02:33:57 UTC

Permalink

Are you talking about only the outlining function, as a standalone?

Post by Randy Erickson
Hello,
I'm new to this group but an old hand at ECCO.
I've been using it since it's inception. And I
believe the outlining function in ECCO has not
been replicated in any other product on Windows
or Mac. I'm interested in exploring whether an
app can be developed to build on the ease-of-use
and intuitive aspects of the ECCO outliner. And
that app should be available on Mac, Window, IOS
and Android. If anyone is interested in pursuing this then please contact me.
Best Regards,
Randy
Randy Erickson

---

Carl Greene
NØNBS, ex-WBØIUS, ex-WA5QYJ, ex-WN5QYJ
--------------------------------------------
seeking exotic solutions to mundane problems

Randy Erickson

2012-06-12 01:32:28 UTC

Permalink

What I have in mind is an app that runs on Mac, IOS and Windows, and possibly Android also, that emulates the Ecco notepad functionality. Simple and clean. It must import and export OPML, and it must also have the "killer sync functionality", because my main goal is to have outline(s) that sync between Windows, Mac, IOS and perhaps Android.

Best Regards,
Randy

Randy Erickson
505.730.8195
torandyerickson-***@public.gmane.org

On Jun 10, 2012, at 8:33 PM, Carl Greene wrote:

Are you talking about only the outlining function, as a standalone?

---

Carl Greene
NØNBS, ex-WBØIUS, ex-WA5QYJ, ex-WN5QYJ
--------------------------------------------
seeking exotic solutions to mundane problems

a***@public.gmane.org

2012-06-12 02:52:14 UTC

Permalink

Just FYI, and FWIW, I talked to NetManage about 7 years ago(?) about their
interest in selling the code, as I was interested in similar projects and
had an interested software architect, and their estimate of the price at
that time was $100,000.

Wish you success, I'd probably contribute $1,000 toward a real effort.

Alan Dumoff
301-987-0970

In a message dated 6/11/2012 10:43:21 P.M. Eastern Daylight Time,
torandyerickson-***@public.gmane.org writes:

What I have in mind is an app that runs on Mac, IOS and Windows, and
possibly Android also, that emulates the Ecco notepad functionality. Simple and
clean. It must import and export OPML, and it must also have the "killer
sync functionality", because my main goal is to have outline(s) that sync
between Windows, Mac, IOS and perhaps Android.

Best Regards,
Randy

Randy Erickson
505.730.8195
_torandyerickson-***@public.gmane.org_ (mailto:torandyerickson-***@public.gmane.org)

On Jun 10, 2012, at 8:33 PM, Carl Greene wrote:

Are you talking about only the outlining function, as a standalone?

At 07:14 PM 6/9/2012, you wrote:

Hello,
I'm new to this group but an old hand at ECCO. I've been using it since
it's inception. And I believe the outlining function in ECCO has not been
replicated in any other product on Windows or Mac. I'm interested in
exploring whether an app can be developed to build on the ease-of-use and intuitive
aspects of the ECCO outliner. And that app should be available on Mac,
Window, IOS and Android. If anyone is interested in pursuing this then please
contact me.

Best Regards,
Randy

Randy Erickson

_torandyerickson-***@public.gmane.org_ (mailto:torandyerickson-***@public.gmane.org)

<X>
---

Carl Greene
NÃNBS, ex-WBÃIUS, ex-WA5QYJ, ex-WN5QYJ
--------------------------------------------
seeking exotic solutions to mundane problems

Randy Erickson

2012-06-14 00:40:03 UTC

Permalink

Thanks for the note Alan. Good to know. I'm not interested in buying the code although I might be interesting to see what they would sell it for now. I'll keep you abreast of my progress or lack thereof.

Best Regards,
Randy

Randy Erickson
505.730.8195
torandyerickson-***@public.gmane.org

On Jun 11, 2012, at 8:52 PM, alandlmc-***@public.gmane.org wrote:

Just FYI, and FWIW, I talked to NetManage about 7 years ago(?) about their interest in selling the code, as I was interested in similar projects and had an interested software architect, and their estimate of the price at that time was $100,000.

Wish you success, I'd probably contribute $1,000 toward a real effort.

Alan Dumoff
301-987-0970

In a message dated 6/11/2012 10:43:21 P.M. Eastern Daylight Time, torandyerickson-***@public.gmane.org writes:

What I have in mind is an app that runs on Mac, IOS and Windows, and possibly Android also, that emulates the Ecco notepad functionality. Simple and clean. It must import and export OPML, and it must also have the "killer sync functionality", because my main goal is to have outline(s) that sync between Windows, Mac, IOS and perhaps Android.

Best Regards,
Randy

Randy Erickson
505.730.8195
torandyerickson-***@public.gmane.org

On Jun 10, 2012, at 8:33 PM, Carl Greene wrote:

Are you talking about only the outlining function, as a standalone?

---

Carl Greene
NØNBS, ex-WBØIUS, ex-WA5QYJ, ex-WN5QYJ
--------------------------------------------
seeking exotic solutions to mundane problems

Russell Friedson

2012-06-12 04:12:11 UTC

Permalink

I think a web based app of this type would be great. I haven't seen one yet as easy to use and powerful in sorting, cross referencing. I wonder if the Kickstarter site could raise $$ for this?

Randy Erickson

2012-06-14 01:28:49 UTC

Permalink

I'll check out Kickstarter. thanks for the note.
Best Regards,
Randy

Randy Erickson
505.730.8195
torandyerickson-***@public.gmane.org

On Jun 11, 2012, at 10:12 PM, Russell Friedson wrote:

I think a web based app of this type would be great. I haven't seen one yet as easy to use and powerful in sorting, cross referencing. I wonder if the Kickstarter site could raise $$ for this?

From: alandlmc-***@public.gmane.org <alandlmc-***@public.gmane.org>;
To: <eccopro-***@public.gmane.org>;
Subject: Re: [eccopro] Interested in developing a successor to ECCO
Sent: Tue, Jun 12, 2012 2:52:14 AM

Just FYI, and FWIW, I talked to NetManage about 7 years ago(?) about their interest in selling the code, as I was interested in similar projects and had an interested software architect, and their estimate of the price at that time was $100,000.

Wish you success, I'd probably contribute $1,000 toward a real effort.

Alan Dumoff
301-987-0970

In a message dated 6/11/2012 10:43:21 P.M. Eastern Daylight Time, torandyerickson-***@public.gmane.org writes:

What I have in mind is an app that runs on Mac, IOS and Windows, and possibly Android also, that emulates the Ecco notepad functionality. Simple and clean. It must import and export OPML, and it must also have the "killer sync functionality", because my main goal is to have outline(s) that sync between Windows, Mac, IOS and perhaps Android.

Best Regards,
Randy

Randy Erickson
505.730.8195
torandyerickson-***@public.gmane.org

On Jun 10, 2012, at 8:33 PM, Carl Greene wrote:

Are you talking about only the outlining function, as a standalone?

---

Carl Greene
NØNBS, ex-WBØIUS, ex-WA5QYJ, ex-WN5QYJ
--------------------------------------------
seeking exotic solutions to mundane problems

Douglas Hinds

2012-06-18 03:29:44 UTC

Permalink

I'm new to this group but an old hand at ECCO. ... I'm interested in exploring whether an app can be developed to build on the ease-of-use and intuitive aspects of the ECCO outliner. And that app should be available on Mac, Window, IOS and Android. ...

I run Ecco on Linux Mint and Open Suse on my desktop work station.
Don't forget about Linux.

Douglas Hinds

Ray Whiting

2012-06-18 10:29:01 UTC

Permalink

This is good to know. I'm assuming you have to run it with WINE or some
other Windows emulator?
Ray Whiting

**
I run Ecco on Linux Mint and Open Suse on my desktop work station. Don't
forget about Linux.
Douglas Hinds

Douglas Hinds

2012-06-18 18:43:41 UTC

Permalink

Post by Ray Whiting
This is good to know. I'm assuming you have to run it with WINE or
some other Windows emulator?

Correct. On Mint Maya (the current version) and openSUSE you install
Wine using the Package Mananger or apt-get install first, which allows
you to choose Wine for installing Ecco's .setup.exe file to disk.

However: In Mint Debian Edition (Mint Maya is built on Ubuntu), I had
to use Crossover. The Mint Debian Forum is full of comments asking for
better Wine support. (Mint Debian is a much newer version of Mint,
which is a faster, rolling edition but a less finished product).

Aside from the OLE, everything works.

Douglas Hinds

Duncan McIntyre

2012-06-18 10:54:54 UTC

Permalink

Ecco runs on top of a very simple key/value database (something like BDB I
think). I should think that it would be possible to write an outliner in
HTML5 using the web database:

http://playground.html5rocks.com/#async_transactions

Duncan McIntyre