-=> Carey Bloodworth wrote to William McBrine <=-
 CB> Most authors are grateful for a detailed bug report, and especially
 CB> bug fixes.
Yes, we are. But I've yet to see anything resembling that from you.
Instead, I've seen insults (public insults, at that). Of VIDMGR, you said
you "really expected better", etc. Of MultiMail, and now again with
VIDMGR, you spoke of "poor programming practice". Such remarks have no
place in any bug report.
And again, if you hate it, why do it? Such a grudging contribution is
hardly going to be welcomed.
 CB> And I hardly think one comment about my distaste for debugging
 CB> somebody elses program (especially when it was supposed to be fairly
 CB> solid to begin with) fits the definition of 'whine'ing.
I do. Here's a guy who busts his ass on some code, which he then makes
available for free, and all you can do is complain about how you "expected
better". I found that offensive.
However, readers of the OFFLINE echo will be aware that my reaction was
not entirely based on that one comment here, but also on certain flame
wars you began there. I realize I should keep them separate, but when I
saw the same pattern here, it really got to me.
 CB> Go somewhere else and annoy somebody.  Go join H.S.
Eh?
 CB> Actually, many of them DID previously exist.  That's the problem.
Forgive my skepticism. I don't pretend to have examined the VIDMGR code
myself. But based on your shallow and erroneous analysis of MultiMail in
OFFLINE, I knew that you were given to making poor assumptions, and not
really studying the code.
 CB> When a program doesn't work correctly, that's called a bug.  It
 CB> doesn't matter whether it occurs during a port or on the original
 CB> platform.  They are bugs.
If it works correctly on the original platform, then it's not a bug *in
the original code*. It may not be portable, as written -- but did it ever
promise to be? Dealing with bugs that arise *only* in the port is part of
porting it -- not debugging it. Or, call it debugging the port; but it's
not fair to call it a bug in the original.
 CB> When you've had more than a few months experience programming, come
 CB> back and tell me what I 'really' mean.  Until then....
Your ASSumptions are showing. Again. I have about 16 years of programming
experience myself. (I admit, I'm relatively new to C... but I don't think
that's relevant to this, um, discussion.)
... William McBrine * wmcbrine@clark.net * http://www.clark.net/~wmcbrine/
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