Computer programs for Billiards?

Snapshot9

Snapshot9

son of 3 leg 1 eye dog ..
Silver Member
What are the top 5 computer programs you would like to see pertaining to Billiards? This can be anything pertaining to tournaments, equipment, design of cues, etc.. that you would like to have available to you.

First, let me mention that I am a systems person, and having been designing a complete 'Cue Management System (CMS)' that I plan to do in Access database. Anyone that has Windows XP Pro should have Access database.

I know everyone wants a cue design program, and I am communicating with Alibre CAD systems to see if they will take this on as a new project. They are trying to find other niches of the market.

So, please think about what programs you would like to see developed. This can be from a room owner's, equipement dealer's, cue collector's, or just a billiard player's perspective. Just your top 5 please, and please prioritize them.

Please keep in mind, the simplier the program is, the more likely it will be free or affordable. Sophisticated desires that are complex come with price tags to them. Please keep that in mind before someone mentions tournament software to handle 256 or 512 players .... okay?
 
There is not enough of a market to develop any software outside of the pool hall time systems.

The cue design thing has been done and all it got from most cuemakers was a that's neat but I don't have time to learn that. There is too big of a learning curve and cost associated with CAD programs. Some of the production cuemakers like Joss and Predator do use a CAD program to create their designs.
 
Snapshot9 said:
First, let me mention that I am a systems person, and having been designing a complete 'Cue Management System (CMS)' that I plan to do in Access database. Anyone that has Windows XP Pro should have Access database.
Click to expand...

Agreed... Access is a very powerful tool when used within its means. Like anything though, it does have its limitations. You can combine it with a .net framework too.
 
short answer:

1. Tournament (brackets, calcutta, payouts, points system, web output)
2. Room management (table time, discounts, flat rate, etc etc)
3. League management (Schedule, handicapping, standings, web output)
4. Cue design
5. Jenn Baretta screensavers :D

-s
 
steev said:
short answer:

1. Tournament (brackets, calcutta, payouts, points system, web output)
2. Room management (table time, discounts, flat rate, etc etc)
3. League management (Schedule, handicapping, standings, web output)
4. Cue design
5. Jenn Baretta screensavers :D

-s
Click to expand...

LOL OK but in a different order #5 becomes #1.... thanks for the smile.. rep for that one.
 
Okay ...

steev said:
short answer:

1. Tournament (brackets, calcutta, payouts, points system, web output)
2. Room management (table time, discounts, flat rate, etc etc)
3. League management (Schedule, handicapping, standings, web output)
4. Cue design
5. Jenn Baretta screensavers :D

-s
Click to expand...

First, cue design has not been done the way I have described it to Alibre. It would be a modified simple CAD program with template libraries for things like tips, ferrules, joints, woods used, inlay patterns, bumpers. This greatly cuts down on develop time. There could also be templates for Pool, carom, and snooker cues. It would be more put the right pieces together, add your optional inlays. There would be freehand draw, but not that much would be needed. (have you seen the detail cue page of Zac's cues?) It could be used by cue manufacturers, cuemakers, cue collectors, and the average Pool player that likes to buy cues.

Second, above, their is existing software for the first 3. Ingen tournament software does all of that for up to 64 players for $39.95, and it is a bargain. You can download the software, and run up to 5 tournaments before you have to buy it. I did it just to learn about the program.

Their are various programs to do #2 and #3, but you have to buy them.
For #5, some ambitious AZ member that has a screensaver program could
very easily develop a Jennifer Barretta screensaver(s) for us Pool dogs...lol
 
Snapshot9 said:
First, cue design has not been done the way I have described it to Alibre. It would be a modified simple CAD program with template libraries for things like tips, ferrules, joints, woods used, inlay patterns, bumpers. This greatly cuts down on develop time. There could also be templates for Pool, carom, and snooker cues. It would be more put the right pieces together, add your optional inlays. There would be freehand draw, but not that much would be needed. (have you seen the detail cue page of Zac's cues?) It could be used by cue manufacturers, cuemakers, cue collectors, and the average Pool player that likes to buy cues.

Second, above, their is existing software for the first 3. Ingen tournament software does all of that for up to 64 players for $39.95, and it is a bargain. You can download the software, and run up to 5 tournaments before you have to buy it. I did it just to learn about the program.

Their are various programs to do #2 and #3, but you have to buy them.
For #5, some ambitious AZ member that has a screensaver program could
very easily develop a Jennifer Barretta screensaver(s) for us Pool dogs...lol
Click to expand...

The problem is custom cuemakers don't want people to think that they are making cookie cutter cues. People buying customs want something unique. The whole idea behind a design program should be to develop something that has not been done before. They want to make more complicated designs.

Also cuemakers want to be able to go from design to CNC code. There is no cheap way to go from a 3D CAD design to a 2D input for CNC. Why design something in a CAD program when you have to redo the design in Mastercam or someother CNC software?
 
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Irish634 said:
Agreed... Access is a very powerful tool when used within its means. Like anything though, it does have its limitations. You can combine it with a .net framework too.
Click to expand...

Thanks for the chuckle. Why not use a real database ?

How about a tournament budget program for the IPT ? It would have to support a two-colour printer with a double-sized red cartridge.

Dave
 
Okay ...

DaveK said:
Thanks for the chuckle. Why not use a real database ?

Dave
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Give me the money to go buy one, and I will. Why do you think I am doing in Access, otherwise I would go out and buy a compiliable language and do it in it.
 
Snapshot9 said:
Give me the money to go buy one, and I will. Why do you think I am doing in Access, otherwise I would go out and buy a compiliable language and do it in it.
Click to expand...

You are right, you get what you pay for when it comes to Microsoft product.

See http://www.openwatcom.com/ if you really want a development system and have no money.

Dave
 
how about a program for kick shots, if u could set up your own shots and see how to aim them that would be pretty useful, also could have a bank of reference kicks, and also could include diamond systems with tutorials and advanced could incorporate speed/english into a specific shot, could be helpful to all skill levels of players
________
 
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Snapshot9 said:
What are the top 5 computer programs you would like to see pertaining to Billiards? ...
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It already exists, but something like Virtual Pool.
 
Funny you should mention that...

Johnson said:
how about a program for kick shots, if u could set up your own shots and see how to aim them that would be pretty useful, also could have a bank of reference kicks, and also could include diamond systems with tutorials and advanced could incorporate speed/english into a specific shot, could be helpful to all skill levels of players
Click to expand...

Funny you should mention that...

In the "sid system" or "kicking systems" thread, I mentioned the software I was developing for
just this purpose. There is a diagram posted also, which shows the inaccuracy of one
particular system. I put some additional effort into this from time to time, but it is very
tedious, and there is very little payback. In fact, I lose motivation for continuing it often,
since I doubt I would ever profit enough from it, to justify the amount of time and work
involved. It is too easy to "copy and share" software, which detracts from the deserved
compensation for software. Imaging if you could "Xerox" nice cues, pool tables, and other
equipment?

EDIT 1: http://forums.azbilliards.com/showpost.php?p=617755&postcount=12
EDIT 2: http://forums.azbilliards.com/showpost.php?p=619271&postcount=14
 
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DaveK said:
Thanks for the chuckle. Why not use a real database ?
Click to expand...

True, there are much more robust database applications. As mentioned Access is limited in what it can and can not do. But it can be useful when used within its means. I was under the assumption Scott was using MS products so thats why I suggested the .net framework, using a compilable language. I have never had the need to go beyond VB.net and Access, but then again, I don't program for a living.


DaveK said:
See http://www.openwatcom.com/ if you really want a development system and have no money.
Click to expand...

This looks interesting. Thanks for posting the link.

Have a great day,
Craig
 
Let me clarify a little

Although I just said programs to begin with, what I intended to say is just some computer programs, however they are done, that would help make everyone's life a little easier that's involved in Billiards.

Most would be just shareware type programs that people in Billiards would find useful, and/or could share information from them with other people.

For example, I developed an Excel spreadsheet that runs a 'Crazy Board' tournament here in Wichita on a PC. It does automatic calcs, keeps track of matchups, and tables, etc..

How about something better for rating Pro players? Something more comprehensive, rated better, that would provide truer ratings for men and women pro players?

In talking about the design program, yes, I realize cuemakers want to do original stuff, but actually how often do they? Most cues I have seen have inlay patterns done before, and hardly ever do you see something totally unique with its design. That's why a basic inlay template library could be used for most of it (a rectangle is a rectangle, a triangle is a triangle, a circle is a circle, a spear is a spear, a veneer is a veneer), but have freehand type drawing to make something outside of the library.

There are conversions programs to go from 2D to 3D or vica versa, I worked with one at Raytheon in conjunction with Catia. Besides, a lot of flak usually comes up when CNC is mentioned in association with a cuemaker.

The design program was just an idea for a simple to use preliminary type design program, and not a cure-all, and not that expensive, so that the largest marketing base would find it attractive to use. But, it would be one
that is specific to cue design.

Games are out! They are way too involved and complex, and take too much time.

Like I said, something not too complicated that would be useful for many people to use in Billiards, shareware type programs.
 
?

Snapshot9 said:
Give me the money to go buy one, and I will. Why do you think I am doing in Access, otherwise I would go out and buy a compiliable language and do it in it.
Click to expand...

Ok, so you're using Access for the database, what language are you coding the program in? Last time I checked, there are plenty of freeware C++ and Java compilers as well as several open source databases that are much better than Access (which isn't free). I'm not sure why you need to "buy a compiliable language."
 
PoolTime!

Back when I was a struggling college kid, I worked for a pool hall and developed a pool hall mgmt software as credit for some coursework. It was developed using Visual Basic 6 as the frontend with an Access database for the backend. I don't think it had all the bells and whistles as the commercial products, but it worked just as well.

Had the ability to create tabs for pool time, beer, and food. Allowed adding of another player to an existing table. Since all of this data was tracked with a db, room owners could run daily, weekly, or montly reports to guage how the business was currently doing.

If any room owners are interested in this, I can see if I can find the source code to distribute.

-Phillip
 
pip9ball said:
Back when I was a struggling college kid, I worked for a pool hall and developed a pool hall mgmt software as credit for some coursework. It was developed using Visual Basic 6 as the frontend with an Access database for the backend. I don't think it had all the bells and whistles as the commercial products, but it worked just as well.

Had the ability to create tabs for pool time, beer, and food. Allowed adding of another player to an existing table. Since all of this data was tracked with a db, room owners could run daily, weekly, or montly reports to guage how the business was currently doing.

If any room owners are interested in this, I can see if I can find the source code to distribute.

-Phillip
Click to expand...


Sounds like a great little project. I deal mainly with web programming rather than object-oriented applications, and I've always wanted to make something new that dealt with pool, but couldn't think of anything that would be widely used. I always wanted to redo our local APA site so it had stats of all the players updated weekly with more user interaction, or a tourny script for brackets to be easily viewed and updated live online, etc. Never finalized any ideas though :|
 
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