Unfortunately, the problem here is not a technical one, but a "political" or
"change" one. For a new format to be successful, it MUST be adopted by both
ARRL and CQ. CQ is tough because it has 6 different contestlog checkers who
operate somewhat independently.
The only thing that will drive change is a recognized problem. Right now,
most people happily submit their logs and know almost nothing about the
limitations of Cabrillo. Nor do they really need to (except when the robot
barks). The log checkers seem to be happy too (thanks to the robot helping
enforce proper formatting).
So... The tech guys should create the framework for something better
(preferably on some other list). But, they should not expect people to just
accept it. A long period of sales will be needed to convince the powers at
ARRL and CQ that there will be a benefit to changing.
K5ZD
> -----Original Message-----
> From: cq-contest-bounces@contesting.com
> [mailto:cq-contest-bounces@contesting.com] On Behalf Of B.
> Scott Andersen
> Sent: Friday, January 12, 2007 1:27 AM
> To: cq-contest@contesting.com
> Subject: Re: [CQ-Contest] A Plea to Cabrillo Contet Robot Writers
>
> Colleagues,
>
> I am the author of Cab-converter, a tool that takes an ADIF
> file and creates Cabrillo files for submission to contest sponsors.
> You may find details about this tool from its Yahoo! support
> group http://groups.yahoo.com/group/cab-converter/
>
> I have hesitated chiming earlier in this thread but perhaps
> now would be a good time to do so. As someone who has spent
> many hours working with the Cabrillo format, I have formed an
> opinion about it... and it is not a positive one.
>
> The "specification" is more like a weak collection of ideas
> than anything definitive. I have plenty of specific
> complaints and observations, but I think I've made my point.
>
> Several ideas floated throughout this thread puzzled me.
> Why would making a file that "rookie programmers" could parse
> be an important design goal? At most, inexperienced
> programmers may _produce_ such files, but it is unlikely any
> of them would ever write software to _consume_ them.
>
> Secondly, why is having a poor specification with significant
> ambiguities helpful to inexperienced programmers (or _any_
> programmers, for that matter!)?
>
> Is it important that the contest submission file format (in this case
> Cabrillo) be easily constructed by hand? That was one of the
> original requirements, as I understood it. I contend that
> this is not a reasonable requirement. There is no reason for
> contesters to manually create a Cabrillo file when there are
> ample (FREE) logging programs or add-on tools that will
> produce such a file for them. Even if this was an original
> design goal, it need not continue to be one.
>
> I would very much like to see a serious discussion about
> moving away from Cabrillo and towards a new file format
> standard that is well-specified, consistent, unambiguous,
> platform independent, and easily extensible to accommodate
> the changes and expansions we know must be coming over the
> next few years or decades.
> While this is probably not the list for such a design effort,
> this IS the list and correct group of people to call for its
> creation. We are the contesting community and set the tone,
> and in many ways, set the goals and standards for how
> contests are conducted.
>
> For those bored or flustered by the length of this thread (or
> my post), I understand your point-of-view. But, this topic is
> not unlike any other extremely specific topic (say on filters, or
> SO2R) where you may not be directly using the technology or
> even desire to learn more about it, but its existence is
> important to contesting in general. I hope you will bear
> with us while we hash this out a bit more.
>
> Thanks for the bandwidth
>
> -- Scott (NE1RD and author of Cab-converter, among other things...)
>
> PS I learned a new word today: "Turboencabulator".
> Any day I learn a new word is a good day!
>
>
> B. Scott Andersen | "Magic is real, unless declared integer."
> bsandersen@mac.com | -- The collected sayings of Wiz Zumwalt
> Acton, MA (NE1RD) | http://www.bsandersen.com
>
>
> _______________________________________________
> CQ-Contest mailing list
> CQ-Contest@contesting.com
> http://lists.contesting.com/mailman/listinfo/cq-contest
>
_______________________________________________
CQ-Contest mailing list
CQ-Contest@contesting.com
http://lists.contesting.com/mailman/listinfo/cq-contest
|