In the real world, code freeze does not mean "no changes to the code". It means no more features get added, and the only code changes are for bug fixes (this really varies from organization to organization, but everywhere I've worked during the last 20 years did it that way). The iterative testing/fixing cycle continues until they get to the point where they are willing to release it with the known bugs. Code freeze never really happens because something always comes up that requires a code change. You grab a snapshot, you call it a "code freeze" to make management happy, you test the snot out of it, and if you are happy you release it. If not, you change the code and "freeze" it again.
In the Valve world, demo = beta = code freeze so they can do bug fixes. The fact that they are making last minute changes doesn't mean they did or did not have a code freeze. It simply means there are still bugs that they are working on, and the arbitrary deadline of "demo release date" doesn't change the fact that, hello, we still have a buttload of bugs that we are fervently fixing. It sucks to be a programmer at Valve right now because you are probalby sleeping at your cube - if you are even allowed to sleep. ----- Original Message ----- From: "admin bob" <admin...@cox.net> To: "'Half-Life dedicated Win32 server mailing list'" <hlds@list.valvesoftware.com> Sent: Wednesday, October 28, 2009 3:31 PM Subject: Re: [hlds] A few suggestions for Valve > Freezing code for a few weeks would probably result in the final game > being > postponed for a few weeks. Is that really want you want? For a demo? > Didn't think so. > > -----Original Message----- > From: hlds-boun...@list.valvesoftware.com > [mailto:hlds-boun...@list.valvesoftware.com] On Behalf Of Neil Voutt > Sent: Wednesday, October 28, 2009 4:07 PM > To: Half-Life dedicated Win32 server mailing list > Subject: Re: [hlds] A few suggestions for Valve > > amen > > -Neil > > > On Wed, Oct 28, 2009 at 5:03 PM, TheGeekLord <li...@thegeeklord.net> > wrote: > >> Oh Valve, how you tease us with all these sneaky release time changes! >> >> Maybe learning about the concept of freezing your code a few weeks >> before you plan to release the demo content would be a good idea? Then >> we wouldn't need to sit through the pain of waiting and having to update >> for every single change (I believe the Left 4 Dead 2 demo server content >> is on revision 3 and it hasn't even been released yet)! >> >> I'm sure this would cause a lot less stress for server admins and for >> you. >> >> -TheGeekLord >> >> >> >> _______________________________________________ >> To unsubscribe, edit your list preferences, or view the list archives, >> please visit: >> http://list.valvesoftware.com/mailman/listinfo/hlds >> > _______________________________________________ > To unsubscribe, edit your list preferences, or view the list archives, > please visit: > http://list.valvesoftware.com/mailman/listinfo/hlds > > > _______________________________________________ > To unsubscribe, edit your list preferences, or view the list archives, > please visit: > http://list.valvesoftware.com/mailman/listinfo/hlds > _______________________________________________ To unsubscribe, edit your list preferences, or view the list archives, please visit: http://list.valvesoftware.com/mailman/listinfo/hlds
