How would you improve the File Exchange site?
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In sharing my codes on the Mathworks File Exchange (FEX) site, I've run into a few usability issues. My activity on the FEX site tends to ebb and flow, and every time I return from a lengthy hiatus I think, "Wow, all this time and they still haven't fixed the problem with _______?"
How would you like to see the FEX site improved? I'll get the ball rolling with a few of my own ideas.
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Answers (5)
Jan
on 25 Oct 2012
While I think that the submission process is fast enough and problems, which does not match in the dull input mask can be solved by a personal contact to the editors, I actually agree, that the FEX can be improved.
I still struggle with the license files: Because all license files have the same name, I cannot store several FEX downloads in the same folder without collisions. Adding a folder to the path for each submissions is not efficient also. Overwriting the license files, because they are almost equal at all, is not valid, because this is almost the only thing, which is forbidden by the license. I'd prefer a link inside the M-files to the BSD-template file in the net.
I agree that minor changes in the documentation should be easier than the full re-submission process.
Editing the comments as in the forum would be helpful also.
There are much to few ratings and comments. This feature would be such powerful if if is used frequently.
But in total I really like the improvements I've seen in the last years: The new list style, the high-lights block on the right, the BSD-license, animated GIFs.
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Chad Greene
on 23 Oct 2012
6 Comments
Jan
on 25 Oct 2012
Edited: Jan
on 25 Oct 2012
I've posted about 40 files in the FEX and updated each of them about two times. I never waited for more than 2 business days until they appeared in the FEX, and the average time was about 24 hours.
So I agree: "If the file approval process takes a week, ...". But I'm convinced that it does not take a week.
I do not think that important, not to say urgent, code concerning the analysis of disasters should be shared using the FEX. This is simply not its purpose. Imagine the nuclear power plant in your neighborhood crashes. Which serious scientist would go to the FEX and checks, if there is a corresponding submission already?
Chad Greene
on 23 Oct 2012
1 Comment
Jan
on 25 Oct 2012
I agree that the FEX is not a high-speed page. After I had to buy a new computer to get more than 1 key-stroke per second in this forum, I think the speed of the FEX is not the main problem of the bandwidth of the TMW servers.
Chad Greene
on 23 Oct 2012
1 Comment
Jan
on 25 Oct 2012
When I hit the "submit" button, a page appears which confirms the submission and explains the process of approvement. Because a submission never failed for me, I think this level of confirmation is sufficient.
Chad Greene
on 23 Oct 2012
3 Comments
Jan
on 25 Oct 2012
I admit, the fact that you did not get any response to all of your mails, sounds clearly like my very positive impressions about the quality of communication are strongly biased. On the other hand, I had the first positive experiences with TMW members before I participated in the forums, e.g. in 2004. Therefore the name recognition is not plausible. But then I cannot explain, that out experiences seems to be such different.
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