Sadly, I bring this news:

I am no longer able to function as a Macintosh software developmr at this time. This means that any existing packages which I have created will not be maintained until such time as I am able to recontribute to the community, or someone takes them over.

Anyone interested in taking over my ports, or are interested in merely creating compatible packaging, feel free to contact me via email; please have ‘Mac development’ somewhere in the subject line.

No, this is not a drill. I no longer own a Macintosh, and am not going to be able to adequately test and build via SourceForge. I’m sorry.

Update: 07.09.2005: This is not entirely relevant; I’ve obtained an older G3 iMac from the good folks of PC Retro. If I find myself incapable of further development with this system, I will utilize it to clean up my builds, and offer the code and applicable changes to make the builds function.

Any software I have not updated within the last year (or two) has moved from ‘unsupported’ to ‘no longer available’. Due to the fast development nature of Open Source – and the leaps in MacOS X within this time, it’s safer for these to no longer be offered.

Should I find time to continue to support these programs, they will return to ‘supported’ status. In the interm, please do not ask me for alternative download links: they are no longer offered.

Thank you for your understanding! – Shawn

I should forward this onto the true DosBox folks – being that I’m somewhat of a rogue maintainer, whom, er, they suggest Mac folks go to for help and support. I’ve never been asked, or outright offered to become a part of the team.

However, back to the task at hand. My port of DOSBox has recieved a 100% Free award, which states This product was tested thoroughly and was found absolutely clean, therefore it can be installed with no concern by any computer user.

Spiffy, huh?

Thanks, Softpedia.

[FADE IN]
Fade into stage, the light slowly ebbs forth as the music follows.

[SETTING]
I’m either sitting at my desk, working diligently on learning how to do something I consider neat and/or exotic – or perhaps even sitting lethargic, slightly drooling as I watch Law and Order.

[PAN TO DESK, FOCUS]
The phone rings.

After a moment of hesitation, I answer.

[OVERHEARD]

Guy-I-Haven’t-Heard-From-In-Ages: Hey Man! How’s it going?
Me: Pretty well, and you?
GIHHFIA: Oh, you know.. life’s been busy. Ya know, I hate to bother you, but..
Me: You broke yor computer didn’t you?
GIHHFIA: Uh, yeah.
Me: It’s so nice of you to call me out of the blue, after not having heard from you in years! It’s a coincidence that you just happened to call now, right? My fee is..

[FADE OUT]

Ok, so this doesn’t exactly follow life; I usually try to help folks who are blatantly attempting to win my favor, if only to help them “fix their problem”, then never hear from them again.

No more. No more freebies. If you want help, this is a job, it’s not that I enjoy it. I certainly do not enjoy doing it for free, only to be given more questions and more begging for help since I’m ‘so knowledgable’.

If you’re in any manner related to me, I will tell you to find another technician. There is no good blood with purchases of goods, or services, from family members.

With the release of Tiger, I’m opting for a new strategy for packages, which will mean a complete overhaul of my file management system.

I will be offering Tiger packages when I upgrade to Tiger. In the interm, all packages will continue to be developed for Panther.

What I will do is offer the ‘last build’ of all utilities for Panther where applicable. Once I obtain Tiger, all updates will be developed for Tiger; I lack the hardware and time to develop for multiple operating system revisions, however, I will attempt to hold the elder releases for the forseen future..

I will provide information on my software page on how to discern which package is appropriate for your machine. If there are security updates for the programs I maintain, I will make every attempt to backport them to Panther.