Disapointed

[piglop]

I'm very disapointed by this project. I was very enthusiastic about it because I'm very interested by this area of research, but the execution looks too poor.

There's no linux version, data is transfered manually, there's no decent english forum (interface is in german), and, worst of all, the client is not free software.

I was going to run this distributed computing software, but I can't. And I can't help neither.

I'm conviced you'd have automagically got a linux version, automatic transfer, many other features and a good user support if you had released your software with a free license. And probably a lot more participants.

[Pascal]

I'm very disapointed by this project. I was very enthusiastic about it because I'm very interested by this area of research, but the execution looks too poor.

There's no linux version, data is transfered manually, there's no decent english forum (interface is in german), and, worst of all, the client is not free software.

I was going to run this distributed computing software, but I can't. And I can't help neither.

I'm conviced you'd have automagically got a linux version, automatic transfer, many other features and a good user support if you had released your software with a free license. And probably a lot more participants.

First of all - welcome aboard, piglop.
I am in direct contact to Laurence Loewe, the project manager of evo@home.
We know since several years that there is no linux version and no automatism in the project and the client. The others and me are trying to support the users in this case as much as possible.
Actually a new client - with automatism and linux support is in development - that is all I can tell you.
Tell me any DC client that is absolutely free and its source is visible for all. Usually at least the "kernel" of the client is not open source as this is issue of the project - in the same way it is on other DC projects.

What features do you want? Let me know - I am going to forward this to Laurence.
What about you, do you know any DC community? Where do you come from?

Thanks in advance,
Pascal

[Pconfig]

Hey,

who don't you guys try to get a boinc client working? All you need to do is write some 'easy' code and boinc does the transferring stuff. I'm not a C programmer but i think if you understand the language it won't be too hard to get it working. Boinc also has a verry large userbase.

Greetings
Thomas

[piglop]

First of all - welcome aboard, piglop.
I am in direct contact to Laurence Loewe, the project manager of evo@home.
We know since several years that there is no linux version and no automatism in the project and the client. The others and me are trying to support the users in this case as much as possible.
Actually a new client - with automatism and linux support is in development - that is all I can tell you.
Tell me any DC client that is absolutely free and its source is visible for all. Usually at least the "kernel" of the client is not open source as this is issue of the project - in the same way it is on other DC projects.

What features do you want? Let me know - I am going to forward this to Laurence.
What about you, do you know any DC community? Where do you come from?

I'd like a easy to use client : download it, run it, maybe answer a few questions, and it starts computing.
If it was open source, it may even be included in my Linux distribution, with premade automatic startup scripts. I believe your client would have had automatic transfer and linux support since many years if it was open source (not necessarily the kernel).

I thought many DC clients were open source, but it looks like I was wrong. I haven't used a lot of DC clients. I've run Distributed.net and SETI@home ones.

I'm interested by artificial life and evolution simulation. I've done some research software by myself, to experiment artificial evolution, but I haven't gone very far. That's why I was interested by this project. I understand very well the need for very large computer capabilities in such a simulation. Since I stopped temporarly my own researches, I'd be happy the help other projects to progress.

Boinc looks very nice. You'd get a lot of new features and probably new users. Have you considered using it like Pconfig suggested?

[piglop]

Boinc looks very nice. You'd get a lot of new features and probably new users. Have you considered using it like Pconfig suggested?

I've just seen the other thread. So yes, you've considered it but you're not going to support it. That's too bad. Looks like you spend time building a similar engine instead of focusing on the research software.

[Laurence Loewe]

Boinc looks very nice. You'd get a lot of new features and probably new users. Have you considered using it like Pconfig suggested?

I've just seen the other thread. So yes, you've considered it but you're not going to support it. That's too bad. Looks like you spend time building a similar engine instead of focusing on the research software.

Well, it's not that simple. Yes, BOINC does make some things easier, if the time is spent to integrate it. However, it also has some structural features that do not integrate very well with the needs of evolution@home. So, if BOINC would be used, then quite some effort would have to be spent on improving it. Without going into the details I can assure you that, I am well aware of BOINC and that I do not spend my time replicating its features.
Currently I do spend my time on
- Writing up the scientific results of the current simulator
- Developing the science behind the next simulator
- Preparing the transition of the website to a content management system
- Designing the long-term results data bases for scalable use by scientists. That is the *real* challenge and unfortunately, BOINC cannot help me with that.
- Searching for a new job, as my current project money will soon come to an end... (which does not mean the end of evolution@home, in case you wondered).

I am sorry that the current features of evolution@home are not advanced enough for you to start computing. However, sooner or later they will be. So you could perhaps send an email to register for news (http://www.evolutionary-research.net/Simulators/Register/index.html)and then you will be informed, once a substantial improvement is available.

Thank you for your patience in the mean time,
Laurence Loewe,
the scientist behind evolution@home