Katmar Software has been established to publish engineering and project management related software as shareware. This page describes what shareware is all about. It gives details on our products and how you can obtain evaluation copies or purchase registered copies. It also gives some pointers to other sites where you can find more shareware and engineering software.
A problem with many internet download sites is that they do not have any sort of description of the programs available. You have to download the program, install it and try it before you know whether it will meet your needs. This problem is largely overcome by Ziff Davis' ZD Net. Here the programs are systematically categorised and you can read full descriptions before you download. Each program is evaluated and rated. By the way, WASP has the highest rating of the Steam Tables programs on ZD Net.
There is a limited amount of Engineering and Technical shareware available on the internet. Fortunately, there is one absolutely outstanding site. The American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME) runs a site that is very well categorised and contains thousands of engineering related files. It also has a search engine. This is a "must-visit" site for all engineers.
The best on-line catalogue of commercial engineering software is maintained by Chempute Software. The catalogue contains full descriptions and many example screen shots. Free demo versions for most products are available for immediate download.
Shareware is a distribution method, not a type of software. Software that is distributed as Shareware can be freely obtained from many different sources for evaluation purposes. This gives users a chance to fully evaluate the software before buying it. Only if you try a Shareware program, and then decide that you like it and want to continue using it, do you have to pay for it. Shareware therefore has the ultimate money-back guarantee -- if you don't use the product, you don't pay for it.
Individual programs differ on details -- some request registration while others require it, some specify a maximum trial period. With registration, you get anything from the simple right to continue using the software to an updated program with printed manual.
Copyright laws apply to both Shareware and commercial software, and the copyright holder retains all rights, with a few specific exceptions as stated below. Some Shareware authors are very accomplished programmers, just like commercial authors, and the programs can be of comparable quality. (In both cases, there are good programs and bad ones!) The main difference is in the method of distribution. A shareware author specifically grants the right to copy and distribute the software, either to all and sundry or to a specific group. For example, some authors require written permission before a commercial disk vendor may copy their Shareware.
You should find software that suits your needs and pocketbook, whether it's commercial or Shareware. The Shareware system makes fitting your needs easier, because you can try before you buy. And because the overhead is low, prices are low also.
