Last Issue I introduced the QHJ Freeware Awards and asked for votes on programs for each category. My original idea was to decide the awards myself, but I felt it would be a good idea to get your input. Well, after getting only one response, I did have to decide the awards myself. At least I gave it a shot.
Below is the list of categories and the winners. After each category I will give a short discussion on why I chose that particular winner.
Since this is the first year for these awards, I have expanded the criteria for consideration to include any Freeware program up to this point.
Best Pointer Environment Program
MineField by Phillipe Troin
Of all of the Freeware PE programs I have seen, MineField stands well above them. MineField looks and feels like a professional PE program. It uses a number of PE features in the same manner that other PE progams do (like QPAC2). A number of different mouse cursors are used. The skull and crossbones cursor when you lose and the thumbs up cursor when you win are nice touches. I’ve seen some other freeware PE games, but none look as excellent as MineField. It’s design and development shows an in-depth knowledge of the PE by Phillipe. If you wanted a program as an example of how to do PE programs, MineField would be that example.
Best Non-Pointer Environment Program
QED by Jan Bredenbeek
I know this program has been around a while, but as far as an impact in the QL community, I think few programs have gone as far as QED. QED is the standard text editor distributed with any program package that needs one (like C68, Intergroup Freeware Exchange, etc).
Best Port to QL
ZIP/UNZIP by Erik Slagter
There were a lot of contenders in this category. A large number of programs have been ported to the QL. Most have been ported directly, with some consideration for the special needs of the QL. ZIP/UNZIP has taken the functionality of the most popular archiving program, brought it to the QL, and added support for the QDOS header information so that executables will archive well.
Best Language or Language Utility
C68 by Dave Walker
No other compiler has done as much for the QL as C68. C68 has provided many users a full K&R C compiler which allows them to either write their own programs or port programs to the QL. C68 is a very comprehensive and complete C compiler.
Best Programmer
Jonathan Hudson
Jonathan Hudson has written programs that have dominated communications on the QL. QeM, QTPI, and QFAX are the standards in QL communications. Jonathan has consistently written solid programs with few bugs.
Well, there they are. The First Annual QL Hacker’s Journal Freeware Awards. I have made up some award certificates (I had to learn Page Designer 3 to do it) and I will mail them to all of the award winners.
Next year I would like to keep the contenders down to just those programs released in 1995 – mid-96 timeframe. I would also like to get a little more input from you the reader. I don’t mind coming up with my own winners, but I do not get a chance use all freeware programs, so I can’t make a very informed decision.