Why do you guys pay for Poker Tracker?

WARRiOR520 · #1 02-24-2007, 05:58 PM

I have been working on a poker database for full tilt hand history for a short time now, and I am familiar with the pay software PokerTracker. I am wondering why you guys, some with programming experience choose a program that you must pay for to do the simple action of converting flat text files into a working database. All the tools that it uses are free, for instance postgreSQL, so why hasn't someone written a parser, it is a fairly simple thing to write, and I would get started on writing an open-source one, but I am still trying to learn the best way to store data that is this complex. If any of you who have paid for the software would like to contribute it would be a huge help for me to just see some sample data of a couple hands so I can make my database somewhat compatible using PT for the base, and adding all the features that I think are necessary.

TheIrishThug · #2 02-24-2007, 06:08 PM

It isn't always worth it to re-code a working program. The time you are spending programing has a value, so even though you will not have to pay for the program, there is still a cost. PT Pat is also gives very good support for when parts of the program break because a change made by the poker site.

WARRiOR520 · #3 02-24-2007, 06:21 PM

I understand that, and I have also seen the PT forums, so I can tell they help their users, but as for the program breaking.. I am just trying to write a parser, how often do you really think the hand history format changes? I havn't seen it change yet, at least on FTP.

Split Suit · #4 02-24-2007, 06:27 PM

[ QUOTE ]
I understand that, and I have also seen the PT forums, so I can tell they help their users, but as for the program breaking.. I am just trying to write a parser, how often do you really think the hand history format changes? I havn't seen it change yet, at least on FTP.

[/ QUOTE ]

the hand histories changed like 2-3mo ago as far as i can remember on FTP.

Mark1978 · #5 02-24-2007, 06:31 PM

It's like $50. People would rather be playing poker than coding their own software.

WARRiOR520 · #6 02-24-2007, 06:33 PM

Just another $50 I could be playing with...

Just my 2 cents tho

Rainbow Warrior · #7 02-24-2007, 06:38 PM

What's a parsar?

WARRiOR520 · #8 02-24-2007, 07:20 PM

Parsing text just means mangling the text into another format, in this case specifically just a text file in the right format to just COPY to an SQL DB.

Anyone want to contribute in the spirit of actually being able to get into the software and see how it works? Or are you all on the PT side and don't want to do anything that would mess with their income?

PartyGirlUK · #9 02-24-2007, 07:34 PM

[ QUOTE ]
Just another $50 I could be playing with...

Just my 2 cents tho

[/ QUOTE ]

OK so how much do you get paid per hour in your real job? How many hours would it take to write something (at least) as good as PT?

WARRiOR520 · #10 02-24-2007, 07:41 PM

I'm a student, I am going to write it either way for both experience and I need one that I have the source to so that I can use it with other things I am working on.

I guess I can count you guys out for a copy of the software when it is done, anyone who actually is interested in this, please feel free to either respond or PM.