jorge, look at the supermemo site for some of the science behind space repetition.  Leitner and SM are not as distinct as this thread would have you believe.  In fact, the Leitner system (what RevTK uses) is a simpler version of SM that can be used with paper flash cards, as it predates the availability of personal computers.

SM is well documented both on its site and in the academic literature.  Google it, it's out there...

There's a number of different SM algorithms.  Anki uses a varient of SM2.

I personally don't use Anki's online host. I prefer having instant-on available-anywhere access to my data. The online host also has limits on filesize and media unless you are a pro user (this is still in beta I think) and of course requires internet access. Between my iPod and my computer I get that without any internet access needed.

Online hosts also disappear suddenly (see every online music/movie store MS has ever run) or have losses due to hacking (that flightsim fan site for a major example) or equipment failure. Even if I used an online host I'd never leave my only copy on it.

Last edited by Jarvik7 (2009 May 31, 2:03 am)

Good luck with your software, but I think you are underestimating resolve. As far as I can tell he's been working on anki with the same intentions as you (simple interface, little knowledge needed to use the base functions, best of both worlds), and has been working on it for years, through tens of upgrades and hundreds of bug-fixes. It would be ironical if you came to the same conclusions as him after a little playing around. Anki is amazing.

Also, resolve is actually working on the software, so it doesn't surprise me that he has no time to write detailed explanations on whatever you ask. If he did, he'd become a teacher with many many "students" who want to build their own software without having to go through the hassle of making their own research.

Having said all that, by all means I'm interested in what you will create. If you can beat anki, you'll have your glory. So keep it up!

My major complain with the software is its overall design, is not the worst I've seen but I don't like it. This is partly because it feels like a typical Java app (I know it was developed in Python) targeted for all platforms. I don't like that when you open the software for the first time you are not very sure what to do (happened to me) because there is no easy management for sets / decks. Creating new decks is a hassle and it takes three steps through 3 dialogs (main window, add items, deck properties) which is not very intuitive. Then you can edit the model but what the heck is a model? Is the first thing you ask yourself when you are there. You just want to create a new set and add cards to it. I think is too complicated. Of course you can come in now and explain the whole thing, but why does it need to be explained? It should be obvious.

Check this out: http://cramberry.net

Now, I like the flexibility it gives and all the special options like spreading new cards throughout reviews or showing failed cards sooner, all of that is very nice, I also praise all the many features it has but I think there is room for improvement.

When Damien developed Anki he was reinventing the wheel, he could have helped Mnemosyne or any of the other open source projects, but he decided to scratch his itch and make his own and turns out he did very well.

At first I thought of making this cross-platform, I looked at Adobe AIR for a desktop implementation or a website for the online version. But even like that is not consistent and it will never feel like a native application. I also don't want to be a competition for Anki. I practically don't use Windows anymore and there is something about well designed OSX applications that in my opinion puts them on a pedestal. Picture a well designed in both looks and feels (functionality) SRS application with a robust scheduling algorithm native to OSX with support for some of the cool features like audio and deck sharing over the internet and above all, free and open source. That is my goal.

Again this would not be a competitor for Anki because only 5% of the world uses Mac out of which only a fewer number is interested in SRSing.

Last edited by jorgebucaran (2009 May 31, 5:35 am)

jorgebucaran wrote:

At first I thought of making this cross-platform, I looked at Adobe AIR for a desktop implementation or a website for the online version. But even like that is not consistent and it will never feel like a native application.

I have experimented with AdobeAIR and still have plans for an offline mini app. AIR is very interesting if you create an online app, you can reuse a lot of resources such as the layout (html), styles (css), and part or all of the frontend code (javascript).

I agree about the native application feel though. The html rendering engine they use is linked to their Flash technology so they are using custom controls for all the regular buttons and form elements that people are used to. It is a little turn off, I reckon (especially that the AIR controls are not very nice looking), however that is really a minor inconvenience considering the many advantages of AIR.

What else would you use? I'm far from an expert in the field of cross-platform development, my next guess would be a Java app since I work on a Java IDE all the time (Aptana Studio). Java apps seems to make use of the native OS controls. But Java apps are far more complex to build than AIR apps, AFAIK.

jorgebucaran wrote:

Well, in general I follow my own rules, not society's.

I remember you posted about moving to Japan, where the standard of good manners is quite different from what you're used to. What then?

This is relevant because "good manners" are also somewhat different in the international open-source software community. In the conversation you quoted, Damien's first email politely explains where you crossed the line (without any assumption that you should have known that). I cringed at how you responded, and was not surprised at what you then got in return.

In open-source culture, you'll sometimes be told to your face what you're doing wrong, and be given one chance to fix it. In Japan, you'll just have to figure it out for yourself.

(By the manners I speak of, I shouldn't post this in public, but since you posted the email conversation I think it's fair enough.)

ファブリス wrote:

blackmacros wrote:

Who are you making this for? Yourself? Others?

A very good point.

@jorgebucaran: don't confuse beautiful interface with beautiful design. I think even Steve Jobs said something along the lines of their design is not just about form, but function (Form follows function @ Wikipedia).

Not at all. I have actually tried to point this out every time I mention about UI, that is not just the looks (graphics, layout, visuals) but also feel (function, usability, etc)

@bladethecoder, @SammyB no point in discussing this with you since you are taking an unfair bias. I think it's pretty obvious he was an egocentric individual that didn't think twice to downplay in my "persistence" and didn't stop remembering he was very busy like if he was the only one. I don't see how I was impolite in fact I tried to cool things down in case he was getting a different message of what I really wanted to express so that's another one for me. He was rude and definitely not polite, without counting unfriendly and unhelpful. If you want to suck up to him, do it, he will certainly enjoy feeding you up and that's ultimately your problem, you're the one that need to learn to have more personality and not me. And regarding Japan, let's see how things turn out would you? And, have you considered that maybe all of the people having such awful experiences in Japan is maybe because they are just plain old fashioned losers that somehow ended up in Japan.

Last edited by jorgebucaran (2009 May 31, 9:27 am)

ファブリス wrote:

jorgebucaran, posting personal replies from Damien here is not going to get you sympathy. This is basically an issue between you and him, posting his answers here for others to peruse, is not very classy.

If you want ideas/feedback you should avoid telling people what you intend to do, or say little. It can quickly turn against you when people feel that your "words are louderthan your actions". Start by building wireframes to demonstrate better "function", and you'll see how much work it is.

It was his idea. Give me a break would you? The last thing I am looking for is sympathy.

Smackle wrote:

He gave you permission to do it. It's different than him pressuring you to do it. You posted it, because you wanted to. If he had really wanted them posted, he would have done so himself. Please do not try to victimize yourself.

Who is saying I didn't decide to post it. He suggested that I should do it and I thought you know what I will do it. Do you have a problem with that?

Most people here are content with anki, if you really want to make your "Mac only" SRS then go and do it. No-one is stopping you, it's just no-one wants to help you because you are very irritating (and you might be a troll). Now just let this thread die

Jarvik7 wrote:

Just because there is no published RFC doesn't mean it's not an open format.

I believe what was mean in terms of open format is that the data is stored in an easily accessible sqlite database.

I'm just back from a wedding. Jorgebucaran, "full email thread" means all of the contents of the thread. If you chop out my first reply and part of a later reply, you're not exactly representing the conversation honestly. I politely told you I was too busy twice, and you continued to press the issue. When I asked you not to email me anymore, you then immediately wined about it in these forums.