Frequent updates, each containing only a couple of updates? Or infrequent updates with lots of changes? These are the choices I have for Poker Copilot updates.
Frequent Updates
Updating frequently is safer. When an update has a problem, it is easy to track down the problem. I can fully resolve issues from customer feedback before progressing. It keeps the software running well. But it puts a burden on the users of Poker Copilot. They have to update often, which can be somewhat annoying. Sometimes when you start up a piece of software you simply want to use it. Not to go through the update process first.
Frequent updates lead to a new class of support problems: not everybody updates. So I end up with customers running many different updates at once. Before I can analyse any problem I need to ascertain what update the person with the problem is using.
Infrequent Updates
Infrequent updates reduce the burden on the customer. They have to update less frequently. When they do get the chance to update, it is usually worthwhile because there are many improvements. But many changes at once in the software make new problems difficult to diagnose. The changes can magnify problems through combinations of bugs that eluded testing. This is a bad result for everybody: me as the Poker Copilot developer, and customers.
Summary
Neither situation is ideal. I've weighed up the advantages and disadvantages. I'm leaning towards continuing with small and frequent updates.
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7 comments:
Frequent updates are fine, I just wish that it would auto update on launch without me having to do anything.
I also do frequent updates but I know it was a burden for people to manually download and install. I've managed to do things a teeny bit better by automating the download but even just that has made people more likely to upgrade (likely in an anecdotal, not statistically significant way).
Sticking to frequent updates, best way to isolate issues, if any.
Agreed with argash, i know it's kind of difficult to include an auto-update feature, but with that, frequent updates are fine and the customers don't bother anymore
I love the frequent updates. I don't see where the hassle is. It doesn’t get any easier than on a mac to update software.
Also if you only make big updates some changes won't even get notices because of the overwhelming amount of changes.
frequent updates FTW!
leaning towards continuing with small and frequent updates is fine , i think !!! agree ;-)
Frequent updates are great..and auto updating on startup would be fine but I love to come to the blog and see what Steve's up to :)
Btw, Stars had a major update for Mac users and will extend to windows users until thursday..I don't know if you have seen it already but here's a screenshot of one of the new features: http://dl.dropbox.com/u/6288351/Screen%20shot%202010-11-09%20at%201.55.23%20AM.png
Another one is saving Tournament Summaries directly on your hard drive so maybe there's a way for PCP to add Results automatically now :)
PS: Steve, I'm sorry but with college, poker and other stuff my time has shrunk a lot but I'll take care of the PT Translation asap.
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