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From: crs@cpsc6b.UUCP
Newsgroups: comp.sources.bugs
Subject: Re: conquest newsletter #2
Message-ID: <427@cpsc6b.cpsc6a.att.com>
Date: Tue, 17-Nov-87 18:57:21 EST
Article-I.D.: cpsc6b.427
Posted: Tue Nov 17 18:57:21 1987
Date-Received: Fri, 20-Nov-87 21:56:39 EST
References: <4518@mhuxd.UUCP> <5080001@hpsrlc.HP.COM> <353@gethen.UUCP>
Organization: AT&T (CPSC), Oakland, CA
Lines: 51

In article <353@gethen.UUCP>, farren@gethen.UUCP (Michael J. Farren) writes:
< darrylo@hpsrlc.HP.COM (Darryl Okahata) writes:
< >In comp.sources.bugs, pokey@well.UUCP (Jef Poskanzer) writes:
< >>
< >> Just how much time did you spend on this game, anyway?  Craig and I
< >> worked for *two years* before we released the first version of Conquest.
< >
< >     Jeez.  Give the guy a break.  It's his first real C program.  Postings
< >like this will only discourage him and others.
< 
< I don't want to discourage postings like conquest, or the person that
< posted it.

Then don't.

< Anyone who puts a lot of work into something and wishes to
< see others benefit from that work is to be admired. But...
< 
< There is never an excuse for posting source for a program which crashes
< and burns during normal operation, as conquest does.  Never.  The fact
< that this was his first real C program exacerbates the situation, it
< does not excuse it; anyone new to a language or programming environment
< should make damn sure he's doing things right before letting his creations
< loose on an unsuspecting outside world.  Posting a program that hasn't
< been tested to death just tends to make things that much more frustrating
< and unpleasant for us all.  The fact that this has happened many times
< before, and will undoubtedly happen many times more, doesn't excuse it.
< --
< Michael J.  Farren

A couple of questions:
  1)  Did the author make any claims as to the fitness of the software,
      or any guarantees that it *wouldn't* 'crash and burn'?  I doubt it.

  2)  Did the author make any request for monetary compensation?  Ditto.

The readers of the net make up one of the largest sources of information
and assistance that 'beginners' can find.  Anywhere.  There is much to be
learned from the postings and cross postings, especially regarding
programming techniques.  Perhaps a part of the author's reason for
posting was to take advantage of that forum.

Please, do not attempt to restrict postings to 'finished' products.  If
you do, the net (at least the sources and binaries groups) will dry up in
a *real* hurry.

-- 
Chris Seaman            |    o\  /o
crs@cpsc6a.att.com <or> |      ||         See "Attack of the Killer Smiley"!
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