I think we all need to remember that features are approved and added by Elecraft, not by users. However, I bet a lot of the features that we like in the K3 come from user suggestions or from similar sources (dialog on other forums?).
I think that the freedom to suggest a new feature should be paramount on this forum. Of course, so should the freedom to vote "No" on a new idea. This is all information that be used by Wayne and Eric in choosing things that might be included someday. 73, phil, K7PEH P.S. A programmer for 45 years On Jun 2, 2010, at 7:55 AM, Vic K2VCO wrote: > On 6/2/2010 4:02 AM, Gary Gregory wrote: >> It never ceases to amaze me when a suggestion comes up to "add" a >> feature that has some practical use, we get a variety of opinions to >> the contrary and yet I think we all forget that nearly all added >> features come with the choice of on/off so that those of us wanting a >> feature added can use it and those that don't want it can turn it off >> and maintain the status quo. > > As a software developer myself, here are some reasons that I disagree: > > 1. Every feature requires code space, which is in short supply. > > 2. The menu interface is already complicated and adding more switches makes > it worse. I've > talked to new K3 users who are overwhelmed. > > 3. If a feature is implemented at all, it must be implemented cleanly, in a > way which fits > the general user-interface and operational philosophy of the device. It can't > have hidden > 'gotchas', etc. It isn't a good argument for doing something fundamentally > inconsistent to > say that "you can always turn it off". > > 4. Once a feature exists, it has to be supported. Some 'features' and > implementations > thereof can have a large impact on the volume of support calls. > > 5. Programmer time is very expensive and limited. Just because something has > 'practical > use' to the four operators out of 10,000 who want a particular feature does > not mean that > the two guys who have to make this work should spend their time on it, > especially when > there are things that 1,000 operators could use. > > These are just some of the reasons that "because it's possible" may not be a > good reason > to do something! > -- > Vic, K2VCO > Fresno CA > http://www.qsl.net/k2vco/ > ______________________________________________________________ > Elecraft mailing list > Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft > Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm > Post: mailto:[email protected] > > This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net > Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html ______________________________________________________________ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:[email protected] This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
