AppImage of scubapro SmartTrak import tool
Willem Ferguson
willemferguson at zoology.up.ac.za
Tue Jan 17 09:27:13 PST 2017
On 17/01/2017 17:30, Dirk Hohndel wrote:
>
> This is like the iOS version of Subsurface-mobile. You all have seen how
> much work has gone into making this happen. And from the server logs I see
> that we have about 150 users. 1.5% of our user base. Gee, I'm glad I spent
> all the time on that.
>
> The Android version topped out at about 750 active users at one point.
> So we slowed development of the desktop app that around ten thousand
> people use to a complete crawl for a year in order for about 900 people to
> play with the mobile app. With something like this it's hard to tell how
> many of those tried it and said "useless" and how many actually use it,
> given that most people only dive a very limited number of times a year.
>
> So, long story short... I'm a bit worried about spending time on the weird
> one-off vs on what people actually use.
>
> (and yes, I am incredibly disappointed with the low numbers of the mobile
> versions - it seemed that SO MANY PEOPLE asked for this... but what do I
> know)
>
> /D
>
I totally understand that feeling. I myself have developed stuff in the
past that had very limited usage. Is it worth it?
But, on the other hand I think there is a wider perspective. All the
little things that may have fairly limited use, e.g. the mobile
versions, import facilities, etc in sum provide an environment that
makes initial users more likely to choose Subsurface or to stick to it.
These are the sort of thing that add a lot of value and, for instance,
have made DAN Europe turn to Subsurface for many of their import
requirements and initial assessment requirements.
In addition, there is the fact that, 10 years from now, most users will
possibly not have a desktop or laptop as we know it today and that the
mobile version will be the most used one because we will have 8-core
mobile processors with a 2000 x 1000 mobile screen and we may just add a
peripheral or two to a mobile. My personal view is that any time spent
on the mobile versions is a long term investment.
With all this, I guess I am just trying to say: you have not been
wasting your time.
Kind regards,
willem
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