Software program configuration
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Credits
99 percent perspiration!

Inspiration

go A web development tool named WebHub, circa 1996, implemented the idea of context (then called "SetupID") when loading values from INI files. This idea evolved over ten years and became formalized as the ZaphodsMap system.

go The Windows Registry handles many of the questions tackled by ZaphodsMap.

Implementation

go DFK in Australia wrote all the Object Pascal code, including several major early editions which were never published.

go DG in Russia handled the port of both TZaphodsMap and TNativeXml from Delphi for win32 to Delphi for .Net and Kylix.

go AML in Australia built the web site.

Photographs

All photos on this site were taken by, and appear courtesy of, Donna Cooper, Photographer, in Chicopee, Mass, USA.

Who or What is Zaphod?

We needed an extremely unique and memorable name for the configuration system, especially for the environment variable. After much debate, we chose the name Zaphod, from Douglas Adam's humerous science fiction stories. You can read about the character Zaphod on wiki.

Why does Zaphod have a MAP?

Zaphod's goal (in this context) is to load software configuration values - aka user preferences and settings. To do that, he has to find the right file. To do that, he needs a pointer (or "key"). He keeps his all keys for certain software in a certain keybox. And to find the keybox... yes, he needs a map... metaphorically speaking, of course.

For technical people: the map is nothing more or less than a uniquely named environment variable that points to a folder on disk.

The unique name is ZaphodsMap.

Creative Commons License This web site content is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 2.5 License. The ZaphodsMap web site is published by HREF Tools Corp. If you use ZaphodsMap, please mention ZaphodsMap.com at least once in your software source and at least once in your software documentation. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.