Community imput, developers contributions and Fidelity vision for Wealth Lab.
Author: mikesblack
Creation Date: 3/2/2010 1:43 PM
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mikesblack

#1
This may be a rhetorical question, but what is Fidelity's vision for Wealth Lab? I get the impression Fidelity is hesitant to not only provide clarity about this, but also somewhat resistant to user feedback, customer requests and queries.

I understand the API is to be released soon, this week perhaps after a very long wait. Further customization for WL and user/ developer interaction involving sizers, visualizers,etc. would make Eugene's job seemingly easier, though his work is brilliant, it would open up more opportunities for user customization and enhanced research capabilities.

I hope that Fidelity is aware that the user base is an important aspect of the product and by obfuscation and discouragement of open source will in effect do opposite to what I suspect are their intentions, keeping customers.

I happen to believe WL is a great product. I do think some renovations are needed as per my post on date sequenced portfolio back testing, but the GUI, reporting and this web site are disciplined, intuitive and very helpful. MS123 is top notch, but Eugene shouldn't be the only one who gets to have fun building add ons.

This post is not intended to be hurtful, but rather a point of constructive feedback for Fidelity. I can only assume that Fidelity has an interest despite what seems apparent.

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Eugene

#2
Thanks Mike, but certainly there are many other people having fun :) Today, you can't imagine Community.Components without the input of our community. At least four 3rd party individuals/companies have published the various data providers. The ChartStyle addon was coded by some programmer. These are works published, but many prefer keeping their cool libraries private/fee-based. The source code of mostly all Community addons is available for a long time, serving as example to facilitate the creation of private libraries.
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mikesblack

#3
Yes indeed. Of which I use and appreciate. The scope of my statement was too broad. I am thinking sizers for now which I believe are not readily customizable at least without documentation??

A healthy and active user base allows for some great innovation and customization, that is at the crux of my statement and what I hope is an object of concern for Fidelity.

For example I would love to see a developer create a program that combines the functionality of WL with the exploration capabilities of some data mining ap such as open source the new and very improved "Rapid Miner 5.0 ", or other D.M package such as "Statistica" or "CART- Salford Systems",etc .

The active debates and philosophic posts on design, statistics and other relevant issues of late were on target for what I am hopeful is part of Fidelity's vision. This as I had indicated is unclear to this user/ customer.

I'm thinking of an active and growing user base that would allow for prolific design and idea generation, potential consulting and design services,etc. The infrastructure is there and the essence of this of which I write was most definitely of historic precedence and seeming relevance for WL.

It may seem I am railing on Fidelity, and with all due respect to the concessions and good service I have received from Fidelity, I should hope my communication here is not miss interpreted. I would like to believe my point of view is received with good spirit and openness.

Thanks.


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