Future of Risc OS - comp.sys.acorn.apps

Message from discussion Future of Risc OS

Alan Calder

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More options 25 Mar 2007, 10:23

Newsgroups: comp.sys.acorn.apps

From: Alan Calder <alan_cal...@orpheusmail.co.uk>

Date: Sun, 25 Mar 2007 10:23:42 +0100

Local: Sun 25 Mar 2007 10:23

Subject: Re: Future of Risc OS

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In article <2b6ed3c84e.st...@helvellyn.stevefryatt.org.uk>, Steve Fryatt

<n...@stevefryatt.org.uk> wrote:
> On 24 Mar, Alan Calder wrote in message
> <4ec8cec754alan_cal...@orpheusmail.co.uk>:
> > I agree. Not necessarily with all your priorities but many of them
> > and some of your solutions. I have the impression that RO is rapidly
> > becoming a hobbyist niche - the equivalent of model train enthusiasm
> > with all that implies with its obsession with the correctness of
> > company liveries and its disregard of the world outside the model
> > area. I actually like using my RO machines and I would very much like
> > to continue doing so without having to worry my head with the (to me)
> > arcane niceties of programming issues.
> The problem is, you don't get any new software without /someone/
> worrying about the "arcane niceties of programming issues".

Sorry I din't express myself clearly. I understand that "/someone/
worrying about the "arcane niceties of programming issues" is essential
but it for asking non-programmers to do so is a recipe for frustration and
confusion. Transfer the idea to any other consumer item and you might see
what I mean. Customer: "I have just bought this washing machine but it
won't start. Can you help". John Lewis spokesperson: "I am sorry, unless
you understand the problems with the UK electricity supply and are willing
to work to get them fixed then we cannot help you. Furthermore, if you
attempt attempt to get the machine to start on your own then we will
invalidate your guarantee".

> While I'm not even going to try and defend what has been said in the
> most recent Firefox spat, there does seem to be a worrying trend towards
> the users attacking those at the sharp end when the awkward realities of
> RISC OS software development are pointed out. If we're going to get
> anywhere, users have to realise that developers will have good reasons
> for indicating the way in which they wish development to proceed. That
> those reasons are technical doesn't make them any less valid.

I've not seen signs of users attacking developers. What I have seen is
frustration on the part of many of being asked to get involved in something
they have no real understanding of. Many have been/are willing to help in
the way they can be it by providing funds/being testers/ writing
documentation but being asked to become software writers is just hopeless.

> Developers are not argumentative for the sake of it; if a request can be
> answered, it usually will be. But, users also *have* to accept replies
> that are more like "that's not practical" or "yes, but X and Y will have
> to be done first" without writing petulant posts to usenet claiming that
> developers don't live in the real world. This is especially true if the
> users don't wish to try and understand the "arcane niceties of
> programming issues" which constrain what can be done given the resources
> available and the best order in which to do it.

Again I believe you have it the wrong way round. If I was a programmer I
would be delighted to join in where I could. If I was a Mandarin speaker I
would get a job in China etc. Yes, I could learn to program/Mandarin but
life's short now - I have to get by with the phrasebook. Again, I have not
seen 'petulant' posts but I have seen puzzled and frustrated posts from
users, including myself, who cannot understand why their offers of help are
brushed aside if they don't involve the writing of code.

Cheers

Alan

--
Alan Calder, Milton Keynes, UK.

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