AutoHotkey Community

[TotalBalance]

As a noob to ahk, I've lost track of how many times expert forum members have helped me solve ahk challenges.

I'd love an easy way to thank them monetarily. I recall there's a 3rd party phpBB add-on that allows "tips" per post. How about implementing it on this forum?

If not, I'd really appreciate an explanation "why" and/or recommendations "how-to" reward those of excellence.

Regardless, ahk is awesome; as are the seasoned members who freely give their time and expertise to help us "wannabes".

AHK rocks!

Lars
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Lars

[engunneer]

I second this (and not just because I answer questions, but because I also ask them!)
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[Titan]

I feel it would change the ethos of the forum from a freely informative community to something like customer support. While a post may not be directly beneficial to the original poster it could be helpful to others, so it's ambiguous to whether a post could be tagged as 'Solved' or marked as the "correct" answer.
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[TotalBalance]

I would add to Titan's comment the "Tip" jar intent is just another way of saying "Thanks". It takes the Open Source/Freeware donation model to the next level, somethings already implemented in other support forums - a means to support the many volunteers who help noobs like me learn and use these applications.

It's anonymous and optional to forum users -- only the persons giving and receiving the "tip" would even know it took place. The fact a particular post might not help the original poster but help another (as has often been my case), means I could "tip" for a post that saved me hours of frustration, even if it was posted months or even years ago.

P.S. Titan, FYI, much of my AHK learning has come from your posts! Thanks!!

Anyway, those are my 2 cents, would love to hear what others think.
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Lars

[ahklerner]

Some forums have a "points" type thing....i think it would be better.
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ʞɔпɟ əɥʇ ʇɐɥʍ

[TotalBalance]

I've seen the points system, but don't easily understand it. Can you further explain how the system works?
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Lars

[ahklerner]

not really sure...that's why i referred to it as a 'thing'..
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[TotalBalance]

Of what I've seen with the point systems out there, they seem to simply add another layer, with the primary vendor maintaining control.

Perhaps it's just me, but I like to keep things simple.

1st Level:
If you like and use an OpenSourc/Freeware app; if it improves your productivity, lifestyle or even your life in general, you should support it - either through donations, promotions, forum support, programming, etc.

2nd Level:
It may just be semantics, but I believe the level of forum support for an opensource/freeware app "IS" OpenSource/Freeware customer support and directly effects whether someone uses the app. or not. E.G. In the opensource model, the level of forum support is a primary sales channel to increase the user base via positive word of mouth (virtual or otherwise).

The above suggested, to keep great ahk experts, like you, continuing to read and respond to posts for help, IMHO, is to come up with new ways to compensate you and by extension increase the AHK user base over time.

Feeling good for what you do, with many thankyous, does go a long way, no arguments. I'm just suggesting another, more direct form of thanks.

For example, if engunneer, Titan, or yourself were in Denver, I'd be the first suggest we meet so I can buy all of you a pitcher of beer (or your drinks of choice) as a small thank you for making my life a whole lot more productive and easier.
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Lars

[ahklerner]

As long as it does not get to be like a strip club on the forum: Are you tipping today, hon?
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[TotalBalance]

Strip Club - ROFL!!

Ok, perhaps it's just because I'm on my 3rd Vodka and getting a little more passionate about this post, but it occurred to me a little more background on why I posted in the first place might help others understand my reasoning.

For years before I got turned onto AHK (I'll be 51 in a couple of weeks), I used WinBatch. A commercial app that some might remember. Bottom line, I switched to AHK, not because it was free, but because the forum support blew away WinBatch support.

While I will always be a noob programmer, for all the years I've used AHK, I've never been disappointed by the level of help received from fellow forum members. I look forward to the day I might finally learn enough to give back!

Bottom line, I believe in putting actions behind words so I'm going to give another donation to AHK before the nights out.

However, I just recieved some great support for an app I needed, for a soon to be publishes book. I couldn't have done it without help from engunneer, Predated, ahklerner, DerRaphael (and some great scripts hacked from this forum).
Here's the link to the app just posted in the AHK scripts section:
http://www.autohotkey.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=26268

To be honest, I would prefer you guys get the donations directly.

Perhaps Chris will buy you all a drink, from my donation, for all you do. A little more convoluted, but it could work.
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Lars

[corrupt]

I like the idea The main issue I can see though is that I doubt that Chris would want the added responsibility and hassle of handling payments between forum members. Maybe I'm misunderstanding...?

[ahklerner]

You can always pm them and see if they have a paypal account.
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ʞɔпɟ əɥʇ ʇɐɥʍ

[TotalBalance]

All Chris would have to do is implement the extension.

It's all done through PayPal. Forum users have the onus of setting up PayPal accounts to send and receive monies (somehow I think the experts on this forum wouldn't mind the 10 minutes, plus acct. verification time, it would take )
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Lars

[TotalBalance]

[corrupt]

PayPal... bah... I'll take certified cheques and money orders...