Re: Another important feature of Ada

[dvdeug@x8b4e516e.dhcp.okstate.edu (David Starner)]

On Sun, 19 Nov 2000 20:24:27 GMT, James Rogers wrote:
>This of course reveals a process problem in several development
>projects. The reason for changing interfaces is most often because 
>insufficient analysis and design work was done before beginning 
>implementation. The only time I have seen it necessary to change the
>interface definitions has been when new requirements are levied on the
>project after analysis and design is complete. This, again, is a
>process problem. 

It depends on your system. If you're building something like the
air traffic control system someone was talking about, with a clear
design and only maintaince updates, then, yes, it's a process problem.
But Linux's original design goals (runs on 386, works for Linus) differ
enormously from the current requirements. To blame Linus Torvalds for
that is basically to blame him for not being omniscient. Likewise with
Windows ("the average user couldn't care less whether we support TCP/IP") 
and Netscape ("like anyone's going to use a mail reader that comes with 
their web browser"). 

-- 
David Starner - dstarner98@aasaa.ofe.org
http://dvdeug.dhis.org
As centuries of pulp novels and late-night Christian broadcasting have taught 
us, anything we don't understand can be used for the purposes of Evil.
	-- Kenneth Hite, Suppressed Transmissions