Andrew Lentvorski wrote:
Gus Wirth wrote:
Gregory K. Ruiz-Ade wrote:
On May 12, 2008, at 4:23 AM, Andrew Lentvorski wrote:
The "Doesn't work anywhere but RedHat or Linux" is simple laziness.
*Especially* given how easy VM systems are to set up for software
development.
I suppose we should learn to never underestimate the laziness of
[free] software developers.
I don't understand how the developer is somehow obligated to solve
this problem. Every time you (generically) say "they should just do
..." means you are putting a burden on them. Who the hell are you to
create additional work for someone else without being their employer
or relative? Some developers will gladly fix things when pointed out,
but if they don't you still have no right to complain.
Then what's the point of releasing the software?
Someone might find it useful. The person it is useful to doesn't have to
be you.
And, I disagree. Releasing the software has become a *request* for *my*
attention. Otherwise, keep your trap shut and the software private.
Wrong. The developer didn't go out and solicit your attention. You found
it somehow, either through a search or recommendation or just stumbling
around. Some developers might try and advertise their wares, but hey
it's a free country (for some measure of free).
It's not your software and you're not paying anything to get it fixed.
Go use something else.
I do.
In fact, there are now a couple of "minimum hurdles" that, if broken,
consign the software to the trash, untried.
1) No testing. This is just a dealbreaker. Without tests, the software
will never move forward.
2) No cross platform. If it doesn't run on FreeBSD/Solaris/OS
X/something non-Linux, it goes into the trashcan. This is stickier than
even just "runs on multiple Linux". This is an indicator of how
well-written the software is. If it is too difficult to port to
FreeBSD, the software is written poorly.
This seems to only apply to languages that are closely tied to the
platform like C/C++. I'm pretty sure that this isn't a problem with
Java, Perl, Python, Tcl/Tk, etc. Given your previous statements about
application development, I'm surprised you try to do anything with C/C++
at all anymore.
3) Root to install. If software requires root for no good reason, it
goes into the trash.
Which is good. A product, in this case software, should stand on its
merits. If it doesn't meet your requirements, don't use it. It might
meet mine and I will use it. The marketplace will decide. The nice thing
about free software is that even with a small market the product can
survive.
Gus
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