The Compressorizer: the new binning?
Recently jfade aka DJSims released a new tool, The Compressorizer, that compresses package files. I was quite shocked to see how much smaller some files were after being ensquishinated by this tool. I've been delighted to see more and more creators jumping on the hair binning bandwagon and binning their hairs before releasing them for public consumption. We expect the lots that we download to have been cleaned of any hacks or unneeded custom content before we get them. I wonder, now, will there be a community movement at some point towards creators being expected to ensquish their creations before releasing them? I have already come across one file (I don't remember now who did it or what it was) that appeared to have been put through the Compressorizer already. Is there a point where we can draw a line and say the creator does not have the obligation to do certain "maintenance" or optimization type things, and anything beyond that the downloader should do if they want it? Alkaloid "bins" eyes so that they are available for townies and NPCs when they are generated; so should all eye creators then do this as well? At what point does it become unfair to creators?
Personally, I think there is only so much we can rightfully expect from creators. Hair binning, I feel, is within that range. It's ridiculously easy to do, only takes a few seconds per file, and is a huge help for the downloader. Some creators (I can think of one in particular, but I will not name him here) refuses to do this because he "doesn't know how." Using this tool is well documented at this point and any creator able to make a mesh should be able to figure it out pretty easily. Likewise, cleaning out a lot file (or building in a clean Windows account) is easy enough to do. And as is often pointed out, including hacks in a lot file can cause serious confusion and/or problems for the downloader, if they are not aware of what they've installed along with their lot. The Compressorizer also is extremely easy to do and doesn't take very long either, but I'm undecided if this is something we should demand of creators. I think it's important to remember that no one does this for a living (if they are, they're a pay site and thus should be destroyed) and many creators have full time jobs or school and limited free time. While a certain amount of consideration for downloaders should be expected, I think it's unreasonable to demand too much from people who share freely of their talents and work.
