New version?

[ibeme99]

There hasn't been a new version released in nearly 8 months now.

Has development of this program ceased?

[jeroen]

Development has not ceased. I am working on version 4 of JkDefrag, a complete rewrite. JkDefrag is a hobby, not a commercial program, and I only work on it when I am in the mood and have time.

[elfring]

JkDefrag is a hobby, not a commercial program, and I only work on it when I am in the mood and have time.

Would you like to integrate contributions from more (open source) software developers?
How are the chances for distributed collaboration by patches that will flow into your version control system (e. g. TortoiseSVN, git, ...) after the recent release?

[jeroen]

Would you like to integrate contributions from more (open source) software developers?

At the moment I am working on version 4 of JkDefrag, a complete rewrite with many enhancements. I do not expect any new releases based on the version 3 sources. There are some known problems but I am solving those in version 4. So I am not looking for contributions for version 3, and since version 4 is still in development I am also not looking for contributions there.

I think I will keep version 4 as a 1-man project, just like version 3. JkDefrag is a hobby, and I know I would not like to work on it anymore if it was a collaborative project. I prefer to work alone, that's just me.

[elfring]

JkDefrag is a hobby, and I know I would not like to work on it anymore if it was a collaborative project. I prefer to work alone, that's just me.

I imagine that more work could be done (in parallel) than by comments in this forum. It would be nice to achieve software improvements by contributions from a wider community.

[cquinn]

Jeroen already makes the source for each release available for others to review, learn from, and comment on.  And there have been times in the forums where another programmer has made a suggestion that has led to a fix or enhancement of the program, along with the bug reports, test reports and general encouragement provided by the forum community. 

There are also contributions made by other programmers to the finished product of jkdefrag that are listed on the download page, as well as links to other helpful programs that can enhance the usability of the program.   There have also been times that someone has modified the source code in an attempt to resolve a specific issue, and the merits of those changes has been discussed as well. 
Many of the hobbyists who use jkdefrag prefer it because we can pick and choose what other programs and functions we can run with it, without having to fight with those features as if they were built into the program itself.

Some OSS projects benefit from a collaborative effort, but as most are done on a hobbyist basis (when and where the programmers can find the time to work together) it can also become a hindrance if it becomes more of an obligation for the principal programmers than a form of recreation
(where other users can reap the benefits of the programmers creative interest in coding).
Many projects have stagnated or died by placing programmers outside the boundaries of what they feel comfortable doing in their free time. 

As much as I want Jeroen to hurry up and release version 4, I also understand the difference between coding because you want to, and coding because you "have to"; and I would not want to put him in a position of feeling like this is more work for him to do, instead of where he might go to get away from "working" as an Internet Engineer.   I also look forward to version 4 because I hope that the awaited scripting language will lead to just the kind of community contributions that you hope for as we all learn how to make the most of the new release.   

[jeroen]

Thanks for you support cquinn, I appreciate it! Version 4 is progressing nicely and over here in the "laboratory" is already doing things that version 3 cannot do. There is still a lot of work to do before I can release even a beta, though.

[ektorbarajas]

It's incredible how a 1-man program is far superior than 1-BIG company program 

[theengine]

I am a long time user of JKDefrag, and a long term "lurker" here.

As far as I can see, this is Jeroen's program. He has compiled it and he chosen to make it available to others. Not only that, he has given "others" the chance to discuss it, make suggestions about it, criticise  it and even alter it here on the forum.

I am very grateful for all of this.

The point is, it is Jeroen's *choice*. He can do what he wants, when he wants to do it.

(I'll now disapear into the backgroung again.)

[Myriades]

Hi everyone

It's incredible how a 1-man program is far superior than 1-BIG company program 

+1

[cquinn]

It's incredible how a 1-man program is far superior than 1-BIG company program 

Not to detract from my earlier comment, but that 1-man probably has a lot less to deal with in code complexity and working with a stable of other programs than some BIG companies do.
It is impressive what Jeroen has managed to do with this program, also considering the boundaries he has set for his own development (programming to the API, and not trying to create alternate methods or use shortcuts that might enhance the capabilities of jkdefrag, but would also put user data more at risk of not being moved in a fashion compatible with the OS).   

There are a couple of features I would like to see in jkdefrag, or at least find some alternate program that can be used to supplement those features.  But until I find those alternates I will continue to look forward to version 4, and continue to appreciate the releases of version 3 that seem to still trickle out.