Sometimes, things gestate slowly in the FOSS world. Pulling together the resources, talent and time to write a piece of quality software is no simple feat......and if that weren't enough, there's the whole "herding cats" thing.So when HeliOS saw a need for a professional-level application geared toward computer use, autistic children and their caregivers, we put the call out to developers, organizers and academics to at least map out a direction. We had a great response.Well, stuff happened, and didn't happen. The academic team had some major problems in getting the project funded through grants and as with any project...If there isn't forward motion, then the project stands to lose interest and support. That's pretty much where it died on the vine. Developers that had originally volunteered their time had to re-prioritize their schedules and managers did the same.Not that some positive things didn't come out of our efforts. Our good friend Peter Hewitt took a look at one of his software creations and seeing that it could dove-tail into our needs, ported Mulawa Dreaming Easy to Linux. In fact, Mulawa is now part of every computer that leaves the HeliOS Shop. Mulawa is a simple program but it meets one of the basic needs that concerned me.We really need an application thatteaches autistic children to use a mouse. Many of the programs out there now are "clicky-shiny" but some lack the functionality of differentiating between left and right mouse click. We didn't want a program to babysit or entertain the child...we wanted one to teach her. Peter's Mulawa Dreaming Easy went a long way in doing that.However, I was encouraged on another front. The folks at Zac Browser had been working a new version of their award-winning software for autistic kids and those who support them. Why recreate the wheel?Their version would include Linux support.I watched this carefully for months and then came the day when it was announced. The Zac Picto project was released....with Linux Support!I am not sure how this happened, and the last thing I want to do is criticize an over-worked single developer, but the Linux version was DOA before it hit the download page. They were introducing a Linux-specific version of their product that didn't work. To make it worse, they didn't seem to have a clue that their Linux version did not work.Unfortunately, the folks at Zac Picto didn't realize it. The Development team had to be told by people scrambling to download the Linux version.That had to suck.See, Zac Picto relies upon Adobe AIR to work. As many of you know, Adobe has been slashing Linux support for their products with a vengeance. Zac Picto needs Adobe AIR 3.0 to work properly.....The last supported Adobe Air version for Linux was 2.6.So here I am, clicking the download link, not yet aware of the show-stopper events that have occurred....Until I went to the forums and started reading the posts....some of them a bit pointed. I mean, how can you announce a working product without knowing that it doesn't really work?Ya think?So, I am sure this is a bit embarrassing for everyone involved ....and disappointing to those who were awaiting the Linux release of this program.Just as long as the Zac Picto folks know that Linux is an extremely important platform for their work. Potentially we have hundreds of users ourselves.Hopefully, if they don't know it now, they soon will.All Righty Then