Re: st: Re: choosing between sj and ssc...one more thing

[Richard Williams <Richard.A.Williams.5@ND.edu>]

> > > HOWEVER Stata's "net install" facility was designed to 
> > > specifically prohibit that action. Files referenced in a Stata 
> > > package file must live on the same machine. That restriction is 
> > > not technical, but security-driven; in a world where many authors 
> > > can no longer email me a 'foo.hlp' file, even in zipped format, 
> > > Stata's security constraints are surely appropriate. Thus the 
> > > necessity for anything "SSC-able" to live on the SSC server here 
> > > at BC. But I should remind authors of SSC packages that while 
> > > setting up a package entails some work on my part (less for a 
> > > second, third... package from the same author), updating the files 
> > > within it (and the package's distribution date) takes a few 
> > > seconds, with drag-n-drop.
A few comments I will add:

* If you are going to maintain your own site, please try to match the 
quality of SSC's documentation in your pkg file.  In particular, 
include the distribution date, so that adoupdate knows when you have 
a new version available.

* Try to avoid having multiple versions of your files on separate 
sites.  It gets confusing when you see the same program name at 
different locations and you don't know which is the most current or 
even if they are the same program.  If you ever submit your program 
to SSC, make a point of making sure it always has the latest and 
greatest version of your program, since (I suspect) many people are 
going to go with SSC if there is doubt as to which version to use.

* SSC will not let you submit a program whose name is already in use 
at SSC.  So, if you maintain your own site, first use findit to make 
sure that your program's name is unique.  Keep in mind, however, that 
people submitting to SSC are not obligated to avoid your program 
names if your program isn't on SSC.

* I do sometimes make beta versions of my programs available from my 
own site.  When I do that i give the programs slightly different 
names to avoid confusion with the officially released versions.  I've 
found that using net install is a far more reliable way of getting 
programs correctly installed than just emailing your program to 
somebody; even smart people will find ways to make mistakes!

* Rightly or wrongly, I tend to trust programs from SSC more than I 
do programs from individual user sites, at least when I don't know 
the authors.  I figure Kit maintains the site well and insists on 
some minimal standards with regards to documentation.  You also get 
usage statistics from SSC which can build (or bruise) your ego.

* Nonetheless, there are some great individual sites.  For example, 
I've always admired the way Roger Newson keeps old versions of his 
programs around for those who are not fortunate enough to have the 
latest and greatest version of Stata.


-------------------------------------------
Richard Williams, Notre Dame Dept of Sociology
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