Suggestion for Apple or Third-party software company?

Question

My first question is, where should I post the following suggestion for an improvement in FCP or for the creation of a third party software – suggested sites, blogs, etc.?
Next, my recommendation, and then my explanation of the reason why (including my personal semi-disaster):
Recommendation: That someone create a “Project Management” software for FCP (essentially a file management program that runs in the background) that organizes and tracks all of the files created during editing/post production – including the log/capture or log/transfer of the original footage, the audio files, stills, effects, etc, AND all of the files created by the program -- Live Type, Motion, Soundtrack Pro, and Color (especially color). The reason for this is that FCP has an incredibly complicated filing system that results in shots, files, documents, etc., being distributed all over the place – and not all known to the filmmaker or identified in the documentation. And, that condition can lead to disaster – see below.
Explanation: I just finished my first HD project using Studio 2, including sound track pro and color. After completing what I though was the absolute final version, I burned a one-off DVD and ran it by several filmmaker and non-film maker friends. They all spotted a small sound problem with one cut, so I went back to tweak it – and discovered that ALL of the footage had gone offline. I had nothing, nada, zilch. I had saved earlier sequences (rough cut, polished cut, etc.) and all the original footage appeared, but I had taken the final version into color for some corrections and adjustments, and ALL of those shots/files were missing.
After burning what I believed to be the final cut, I had cleaned up my hard disk, moving stuff to my backup hard disk, to my RAID array, and to the trash. So, after the initial shock and complete panic, several hours of searching all of these drives, led me to the file that contained the files that contained the color corrections – in my trash, which fortunately had not been emptied. I have no idea where the files were before or how they got into the trash – obviously they were not added to the scratch disk with all of the original footage.
Part of the difficulty of finding the shots was the discovery that color creates a file folder, that holds a set of file folders, each of which holds only one shot. In order to reconnect, I had to move the parent folder to the desktop, and then move all of the shots, one at a time. into a single folder, and then point reconnect to that folder. Problem solved.
However, now I face that question of archiving the project, moving all of the files off my hard drive so I can use the space for my next film, and I am terrified that I will leave something out, and not be able to recover the project in the future. Having a project management software that organizes and coordinates all of that would be a lifesaver – and well worth the purchase price.
Anyone who would like to explore this idea, please feel free to contact me – [email protected].

Answer 1

You've just learned a hard lesson. Put your current energy into your education, not finding a way to wallow in ignorance.
There already is a hardware device that will do what you want. It's called a "manual". In particular, the sections that relate to "where the program stores media". Pay very close attention to those sections and set up your computer so that all the scratch and storage pointers are aimed where you want. It's very simple to have them all go to one drive.
Then, when it's time to archive the project because you are starting a new project, just purchase another hard drive for the new project. They are absurdly inexpensive these days.
Remove the drive with your project to be archived from your computer (since you now know how to keep all the files organized, they will be all together) - and plug in a new disk for the next project.
If you want a backup, use carbon copy cloner to simply duplicate the drive (or simply just copy the relevant folders- you'll know which ones) to another drive (or get a RAID 1 device)
good luck,
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