Bonsai management software

bonsaibrett

Hi,

Im new to these forums, but was just after some information regarding Bonsai management.

I have been working on some software recently to manage bonsai collections and just wanted to gauge how useful people would find something like this.

So, would you find some software for managing bonsai useful for recording bonsai information?, including height, trunk diameter, source, cost, repotting dates, etc

Also, if you currently use software for managing your bonsai information could you let me know so i can see what else is out there?

thanks in advance.
cheers,

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legatoistheman

Hey brett, I use mybonsai from http://xoomer.alice.it/mybonsai/ this website. it works good for me. there are many programs already out there though.

sincerely,
Legato

bonsaibrett

Oops, i probably should have mentioned.. I'm targeting the Mac platform, specifically Mac OS X (10.4+)

I've googled a few times for management software but found little reference to any for the Mac platform.

legatoistheman

brett i would have no idea on mac stuff. i run an xp 64 pro machine. sorry

sincerely,
legato

Bgw

Hi bonsaibrett,

Not at all, and let me explain, for whatever it is worth.

Although I've worked in industry my entire career, I've always headed to the outdoors whenever I had the opportunity, and I do not mean the nearest city park: backpacking, canoeing, mountain climbing, and flyfishing. I developed an appreciation for the outdoors early while fishing and hunting with my Dad.

Taking up Bonsai has been on my list since the first time I saw one in the early 1970s. Having spent so much time outdoors, I knew it was something that would take me into my retirement years, those years where mobility would be limited by age and health. Bonsai is a way to bring it home so to speak.

In contrast to my industrial career, the outdoors, and now Bonsai, represent a simpler life style I crave. Maybe it is frustration with Windows, I don't know, but I do know that some day real retirement will happen when I can rid myself of the last PC.

Recently, when I started to learn Bonsai, I intentionally purchased the original database: binder and pencil.

So how will I deal with this forum and the internet? e-mail? Library. Internet cafes. The last thing I want to do in my old age is to be keeping a PC or a MAC up to date.

I've never used a MAC and have talked to people who have and say the problems are less, but...I'd rather spend my time learning Bonsai rather than a new platform.

Good luck on your project. I understand the need. Thoreau said firewood warms you twice: once in the cutting and second in the burning. Your project could be like firewood if you don't let it overtake your time.

Just my $0.02CDN worth.

B.

kcpoole

there already is project that has been discussed here before
http://mac.softpedia.com/get/Educational/OT2.shtml

OT2 is an application that is cross platform and built for the purpose you mention.
Rather than reinvent the wheel, I suggest you add your efforts to this current project.

Ken

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Ian_Homer

................and already a thread on it here in the Product Showcase Forum

Regards,
Ian.

jbhayman

If you are giving it away I would be interested !!

But at a cost I would rather buy another tree!!

Jbhayman

bonsaibrett

Thanks for the link. I took a look at the app and also the source code for it. It seems to be written in C++, and doesn't seem to make use of the Apple UI guidelines or any of the features that make applications for OS X unique.

As it stands, it seems to not be even using the standard Apple UI elements made available in Interface Builder.

My plan is to leverage the power of the latest OS X technologies, including Core Data, Quartz, etc. My application, in its current form is a Cocoa (objective-C) Core Data application and thus in no way really useable towards a C++ application.

Unfortunately, i think the time i would spend learning C++ would be better spent building a quality OS X Bonsai management program.

To illustrate my point, ill post some screenshots shortly.

Thanks for the input though, i appreciate it.

cheers,