Process Lasso v4.0

Well that is one thing I can do without breaking a sweat, lol ;). Thanks much for your support, and I appreciate the 'alternate view' on the name. I've debated that name for years with myself and others. It is nice for something to just 'be ok' and not need changing. Thank you ;)

I did not previously have this on my list of items I planned to implement, but I do now. I do not want to say when it will come, but it is 'on the list'. I agree this would be highly useful. A recently used tab could do better than listview highlights, which persist only a few seconds. It would allow a 'review' of all processes that had recently terminated. So, excellent idea!

I agree completely, but after YEARS I am kind of stuck with it.. Dunno, maybe I could pull that off. It hasn't gone without considerable thought, that's for sure.

[reposted from my comment - did not see this official response box]

This is doable when v4.1 is released, as power schemes can automatically be invoked with any process - so you could tell it to use whatever power scheme when 'explorer.exe' started. While a little different than your request, that is the plan for v4.1. Future versions may have other power scheme options. Thank you!

That is a good idea. Let me see what I can design up for a future version ;). It wouldn't be hard, especially starting simple. This way I could even show extended information about ProBalance restraint events.

The graph is the best I can do. It measures responsiveness of the system. Had Process Lasso's ProBalance algorithm *not* intervened, I could only guess the possible outcome. It would probably be bad.

In other words, since I can't compute this with CERTAINTY, I don't want to 'fake it' (as some programs do, no kidding).

Similar to another idea posted, but this was the first. Basically, this is *always* under progress and I *always* plan to make it more simple to use. I intend to eventually have a 'Simple Mode' that is as simple as an ON/OFF switch.

Thanks and Agreed. The lack of them is only due to me not 'doing it'. So, I need to 'do it'. ;). I want tooltips over menu items even, but had some difficulties in the implementation. I am working towards this. In some cases, it is just a matter of me needing to 'add them'. In other, more complex cases, I need to code specific handling for them. This is all now possible though, as the code was written in v4 with the ProBalance graph highlight tooltips.

While Process Explorer and other task manages do this, and I know it is handy -- I just don't know if it is *essential* to Process Lasso's core mission. If I were writing a task manager replacement, then maybe.. but until I decide to 'take them on' I'll probably only provide a PPID column (which is scheduled). That stands for parent process ID. So, at least you could see what process is the parent for a specific process.

Another reason is that there is no TreeListView built into Windows, so it has to be custom implemented, or third-party code introduced. For whatever reason, I have an aversion to having to rely on anyone else's code, so I would have to write it myself. Therefore, *if* I did decide to do this, it would be a larger undertaking than it might seem from the outside.

Thanks much for taking the time to suggest an idea.

I do not want to say more than, don't lose hope on this. That is all I can say for now. I can't guarantee anything, so don't count on it either.. but don't lose hope. This is not something that hasn't been considered and already in R&D stage.

This was reported to me today, and I hit myself on the forehead. I simply screwed up and apparently saved the Chinese translation over the French translation. I am creating new builds to fix this. The current beta does not have this problem, but that isn't part of the deal ... so... I intend to include this fix in v4.00.31, which I have scheduled to release freely to you GOTD users. I apologize for this mistake.

Thank you. It is always a work in progress though, hence the multitude of updates. It really is my artwork, in a way. Much like an evolving painting. Of course, it is NOT perfect, and I know of defects and have bug fixes on the agenda, so I can not claim perfection.. sadly ;o. I can claim pretty darn good performance and better results than with these corporate crap utilities that have tried to copy ProBalance though, lol.

Actually I do have an 'incompatible apps' list planned for v4.1 (and expanding in v4.2), of cases where I've found system utilities that 'hacked on' priority management incorrectly. So far, I've found ALL OF THEM (except Process Tamer) to be very dangerous and do it 'all wrong', which can cause all kinds of problems (e.g. priority inversion). Other than Process Lasso, Process Tamer is the only one that does it right enough to not cause blatant potential damage to the system's state. I believe I've got it tweaked just a little better, but it is my baby so I have a bias, lol.

This overall message is important --- as having too many applications installed is a recipe for disaster, especially if they overlap. It is similar to having more than one security suites installed -- something that is NEVER a good idea.

At one time, I used to show the ProBalance configuration after install, to let the user tweak it. However, users found that too confusing. I agree with this though, and will do it once I add the new 'Simple Mode'. That way, I can have it in the advanced mode and it not confuse any users, or cause them to make configuration mistakes. Thanks much for taking the time to post this good idea ;)

Hmm.... I hadn't considered that. I fear complicating the ordering process further, there are already so many different types -- but perhaps, if there are enough Home Server users? I suggest Home Server users have their presence be seen by creating a profile on the Bitsum Forum and posting a topic there. This will help give some impetus to convince me there are enough to warrant adding this, at the risk of 'confusing' some people.

Thanks much for taking the time to submit the idea ;)

That is a good idea. Since I'm not much of a gamer, I'd need to some assistance from user's, if they are willing. Tell me your games, and I'll start compiling a list and we can automate that -- so no config necessary ;). Please go to the Bitsum Forums, create an account, and start a topic -- if you are wiling and have time. If not, no worries, it is still a good idea and I intend to work on that.

First, thank you for pointing this out.

I have not evaluated that software, but will do so. Due to the introduction of some system utilities trying to 'copy' Process Lasso's ProBalance, and screwing up the process priority classes as a side-effect, I do have a new list of incompatible applications in v4.1. This will help guide the user away from potential conflicts. If a conflict is here, and I believe you when you say there is one, then I will add this to the list and warn users, or prevent install if the conflict is severe. I apologize for any problems you had as a result of this interoperability issue. Process Lasso is *very* conservative and tries to do everything 'by the book', and while I don't want to blame somebody else, it many cases it isn't Process Lasso that is at fault. In fact, sometimes neither application is at fault and it turns out some malware was hidden (well) on the system, causing the problem. The latter is the case the majority of the time, in fact ;o. In this case, probably not --- but the USER can add an exclusion, then Process Lasso's ProBalance would have nothing to do with Aston Desktop.. and it would make no other changes.

Thank you, good stuff. First, just FYI, that message is only shown ONCE, but you are right -- I did not even consider docked who placed their taskbars in different locations. That text needs changing. Thank you for pointing that out.

After activation a restart is required to get rid of the buy now button. This is on my list of fixes to do, so is scheduled in the very near future (e.g. a minor update).

I plan to issue a minor update to all GOTD users after a few minor cosmetic fixes are finished, then backported from the current beta. This will be v4.00.31, and unfortunately be the last update for GOTD users. Many companies don't even provide updates, but I feel it is an obligation to back-port fixes whenever possible. In this case, it is now possible, so I intend to do that.

A feature that is planned will help. It is 'classified' right now because it is too far from completion. It would be different than gaming mode, essentially a new type of gaming mode implementation that also supports other types of usage patterns. I do not know when this will be unveiled, or if ever even. So, no promises, as it is early in R&D on this one.

If a user just 'clicks through' all prompts by hitting ENTER the resultant configuration is optimized for their system. ProBalance is active, but nothing else. I have considered, and planned to add, a simple bar that adjusts the sensitivity of ProBalance.. and other solutions. I decided some sort of 'simple mode' would be best. So, I've been thinking, and working towards this.. as I know it is needed.

I agree. I plan to do 'something'. I am not sure yet. Perhaps the best approach is to use a third-party library and abstraction layer like everyone else does, but this does add to resource utilization. Maybe further improvements can be made 'on my own', as I would prefer it. This is always a goal of mine though, I just unfortunately seem to suck at it ;o

This is already done ;). The process or process(es) you have selected have their CPU history drawn on the graph as a white line. Since this is not mentioned in the legend (because my art skills prohibited it), it can be confusing. However, that is what that white line is ;).