Groklaw's Unix Methods and Concepts Database

jbeaupre writes "Groklaw has spawned a new feature that may prove useful well beyond the current SCO litigation. The UNIX Methods and Concepts Database began as a list of books and papers on Groklaw that became so large it demanded organization. The new system was announced and is currently a work in progress."

I'm afraid SCO has a patent on this already.

[Orrin Bloquy]

Come quietly, before the leading IP-related Senator's son has to sue you, too.

Re:Go Web 2.0

[Bill Dimm]

I agree. This is the second time in two days that I've come across a site with some custom scrolling thing that worked terribly. I just want to hit the "page down" key to scroll, like I've been doing for years. Is that asking too much?

Re:Go Web 2.0

[NutscrapeSucks]

It's UNIX Method #528 -- Having a bad User Interface.

Taxonomy

[redelm]

So Grok! is looking for some higher level taxonomy to organize information: I suggest the classic phases of computing: Input, Processing and Output. Plus Misc, of course.

Unix, and other Linux-like systems :) has important innovations in all three areas. Processing could be further broken down by kernel tasks: memory mgmt, scheduling, threading, filesystems, device drivers. And misc.

Re:Taxonomy

[Elektroschock]

To be honest, a table with 116 books and a comment section is nothing which does enlight anyone here.

For books there are bibliographies. You find them in your library.

However, I am looking for a web application for book or article collections with reviews, with bibtex export, very 'simple'.

Are there solutions available out there?

Needs work

[just_another_sean]

It looks like it's a bit short of entries at the moment. I'm sure they could use all the help any interested /.'ers could offer.

Re:Needs work

[dorkygeek]

As well as a good friday night's slashdotting, I guess.

Re:Needs work

[just_another_sean]

Hah, yep... I guess there is a such thing as bad publicity. :-)

Fancy interface...

[goofyheadedpunk]

Did anybody else using it find the experience frustrating? I thought the search function was pretty able, but given that my browser already comes with a perfectly functional scroll bar I don't see the reason to over-ride it with a javascript jerky bar from hell.

But maybe I'm just cranky today.

Anyone else think the scroll bar was a bit inappropriate?

Re:Fancy interface...

[rRaminrodt]

It took me about 2 minutes to realize it was even there. Plus the arrows are both at the top, which is even more unusual.

So yeah, I agree with you, it really belongs in the bad usability category, especially since it serves no real purpose.

Re:Fancy interface...

[SanityInAnarchy]

Yes.

But then, I also think Flash is inappropriate.

Call me ignorant but...

[porkThreeWays]

Is the SCO issue still really an issue? I remember at one point it was hot button and there was genuine concern, but even the most die-hard of SCO apologists seem to agree SCO is going to lose. I get all these government computing b.s. magazines all the time and they were the ones reporting this garbage the most; and I seriously can't remember the last time I've read a SCO story in one of those. I understand that litigation is still going on, but they passed the point of grasping on straws a year ago.

Re:Call me ignorant but...

[Pseudonym]

Is the SCO issue still really an issue?

Even now, you occasionally get a pundit who points to legal risks in open source. The downgrading of the SCO case to what is basically a contract dispute with IBM doesn't change that, because pundits can be pretty stupid sometimes. While it's true that if Groklaw disappeared overnight, SCO would still lose, some of the paid mouthpieces wouldn't stop.