LAROKE Stump the Puzzler FAQ

INTRODUCTION

Actually there are no FAQs (Frequently Asked Questions) since no one has ever asked the same question twice. I'm not going to let that stop me however. Instead, I offer here my best guesses for what might become FAQs should Stump the Puzzler ever become a popular place with the LAROKE site visitors.

Question:

What is Stump the Puzzler?

Answer:

Stump the Puzzler in its current incarnation is an automated PC (wintel) computer technology question and answer forum at the LAROKE site.

Along with the move of the LAROKE site to a new Web hosting service in early 1999 came additional features including the ability to host more sophisticated services. The current LAROKE Stump the Puzzler Discussion Board is the first example of those new services.

Question:

Where did Stump the Puzzler come from?

Answer:

The original Stump the Puzzler Form was deployed Friday March 21, 1997. It was a simple form. When someone filled out the form and submitted it, the form's contents would be e-mailed to me.

Users would send me PC computer questions and I would try to answer them. I would have to hand-code the message pages that were published to the LAROKE site.

It turned out to be too time consuming to keep the site updated with the questions and answers. I would have been in real trouble if it had ever become popular.

Question:

What was the idea behind Stump the Puzzler?

Answer:

I wanted to add some "community" capabilities to the LAROKE site but my Web hosting service was very limited in interactive features - basically, I was limited to a few simple e-mail forms linked to a autoresponder. As a result, I set up the Stump the Puzzler Question and Answer form.

When I write software, and I put my name and copyright notices in the header comments, I follow my name with the impressive initials "P.A.L." These initials do not stand for any professional society or academic accomplishments. They are a "tongue-in-cheek" reminder of how confusing software development can be. They stand for "Puzzler at Large".

There are no prizes for "stumping the puzzler" because it is not all that difficult to do.

Question:

What is LAROKE Message Forum at Delphi?

Answer:

In a word: Defunct. The Delphi forums no longer exist. Going to this web address now takes you to an automotive aftermarket supplier. I, myself haven't visited the forum for years and don't know when it disappeared as I write this in December of 2009. The two paragraphs that follow were the original answer for this faq.

When it became too time consuming to keep the site updated with the questions and answers, The LAROKE Message Forum was established at Delphi Forums. It's easy to set up your own message board at Delphi and link it to your own site which is what I did.

The LAROKE Message Forum at Delphi has never been popular with the people who visit the LAROKE site. I suppose having to register as a Delphi member to post messages puts most people off. Whatever the reason, I'm the only to have ever posted there, although lurkers pass through from time to time.

LAROKE Microcomputer Consultants
155 East Boca Raton Road
Boca Raton, Florida 33432

Issued Friday June 11, 1999

Updated Friday December 18, 2009

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