Re: Any way of persuading GNAT/GCC to implement a true overlay and not a pointer?

["Randy Brukardt" <randy@rrsoftware.com>]

"Justin Gombos" <rpbkbq.xax.gld@uluv.kbq> wrote in message
news:PJi_f.1717$7Z6.1073@trnddc06...
> On 2006-04-04, Randy Brukardt <randy@rrsoftware.com> wrote:
> >
> > Expecting unusual requirements to be handled for free on important
> > projects is just plain silly.
>
> The best support is often free.  I see no issue with the OP using this
> forum as a starting point.

Neither do I. But that wasn't my point. He appears to have business critical
requirements on a product. You cannot expect to have those handled for free.

> In fact, it would be beyond silly to start up a support contract for a
> single issue, risking the possibility that the paid support can't help
> anyway, when the issue could potentially be answered in a public forum
> at no cost.

Absolutely true; if he has business critical needs, he should have started a
support contract long ago. Waiting until you're blocked to try to arrange
for help is a major schedule risk -- especially if getting the approval for
a support contract takes several levels (as is typical).

This discussion highlights one of problems (maybe the only real problem)
with the typical open source model. It relies on selling support to generate
the revenues needed to support the development. (Developers need to eat!)
But truly great software does not need support at all (no bugs, intuitive to
use, etc.), and probably requires little training. (I consider a support
call an indication of failure.) So, it appears that open source (at least
the traditional model) is incompatible with truly great software. [Before
you all start a flame-war, please note that commercial closed source
development also has pressures at odds with truly great software - in
practice, it hasn't delivered it, either. It's conceivable that no model
could deliver it in practice...which is very sad.]

Free support can be very effective with great software - but if there is too
much of it, the software will inevitably fall into disrepair.

                      Randy.