> -----Original Message----- > From: Niclas Hedhman [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] > > On Thursday 18 March 2004 04:21, Alex Karasulu wrote: > > Now that it's a matter of loosing history this is no > > longer a matter of preference. The history is something we owe to all > > contributors and I think Niclas will appreciate that. > > Personally, I couldn't care less if the history of my work is available or > not. I am listed as one of the developers, on equal terms with everyone > else. > I got blasted last time I put a foot forward and pointed towards who > contribute and who doesn't, and was TOLD in rather sharp words, that who > does > the work doesn't matter.
I never blasted anyone nor will I. > Obviously it does now - So please, stop the HIPPOCRACY. > Either it does matter (history is preserved, and I keep bugging about > 'stop > the rhetoric and do the work') or it does NOT matter (history is lost, and > I'll shut up). I've always have been a proponent of giving credit where credit is due and would never take that away from anyone. However I think you're not referring to me specifically but I had to say that regardless. I have agreed to the removal of the @author tags because they are ambiguous and actually take more away from the orig author of a file. The history is the true judge of who did what. It's what is sacred not the @author tags. I'm not here for the glamour, if any, with writing OS code but it's important to maintain this history. To some, the credit is very important and I can't judge their motives - everyone has their own reasons for contributing. Personally for me it's to be part of something bigger than myself. The fact however does remain that @author tags are ambiguous. There is no hypocrisy in stating that and working hard to maintain history. Don't attach a moral judgment or notion of hidden agendas to the removal of @author tags. Just work with the facts. @author does not mean anything when the code is authored by a community. We'd be better off writing our own doclet and have an @community custom tag and be done with it. Anyway if you stop thinking people are trying to undermine the efforts of others you'll be free to interpret just the facts. @author does nothing for anyone. I can just change a file and add my own @author tag to it or replace the original author's tag. There after people only see me as the author. Javadocs have high visibility and authorship through the @author tag can be very misleading especially to our users. It can actually result in situations where perceived authorship is taken away from one and granted to another. So the final verdict always rests with history. In the history we can see those who really groked the code if that was the question on the table. Treating @author tags as really meaning @community tags and emphasizing the history as the master record in the end protects people like you and Stephen who are working their buns off. Disclaimer: I know others are working their buns off too. Respectfully, Alex --------------------------------------------------------------------- To unsubscribe, e-mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED] For additional commands, e-mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
