Re: and visual library once again

["Jeffrey R. Carter" <spam@spam.com>]

Bob Spooner wrote:
> The cost of _distribution_ is very low. The cost of production, that is
> development, of software, especially _good_ software, is high. Very few
> companies are willing to make the kind of investment it takes to produce
> good software. That's one of the reasons Ada isn't more widely used.

If we compare SW to HW, we find in HW that a design is created, prototyped, and 
one or more production exemplars are created by the designers. The item then 
goes into production, and the produced items are distributed.

In SW, a design is created and a production exemplar is created by the 
designers. The SW then goes into production, which is the process of burning and 
boxing CDs, packaging the SW for download from the net, or the like. So far, 
very similar to HW.

The cost of designing the SW and creating that production exemplar is high, but 
the cost of production is not. SW development is a design activity, not a 
production activity.

> Only if the development cost can be amortized over an infinite number of
> sales or licences or support contracts. Otherwise price does not equal
> marginal cost and the development cost is highly relevant.

This is of course true.

-- 
Jeff Carter
"Nobody expects the Spanish Inquisition!"
Monty Python's Flying Circus
22