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Archiver > TMG > 2002-06 > 1022954589


From: Richard Brogger <>
Subject: Re: [TMG] Don't Use Validate File Integrity
Date: Sat, 01 Jun 2002 13:03:09 -0500
References: <BBELINAJCPNPOALLDGONIEAJDCAA.clcasper@sprynet.com><5.1.0.14.2.20020601123629.00b5d6d8@mail.rgcle.com>


I avoid buying the first release of a new product or the first release
of a major upgrade. When I have made an exception to that policy, I
have gotten stung most of the time. No matter how hard the developers
and testers try, bugs will slip through.

It is not a matter of shoddy work or anything of that nature. I have a
hard time writing a reply to a message and having it error free and I
see many others who are in the same boat. I really can't imagine
writing millions of lines of code without errors. Add to that the fact
that it is code and not just plain text, what I write now may affect
what I wrote last week, and I see a host of opportunities for bugs.

Until a new program has had time to get the errors worked out, I will
use it to learn, I will use it to experiment. Any time I invest doing
anything with 'real' data is subject to being lost. I know and accept
that.

I am very glad that others are willing to take risks so that the later
release I buy has had many of the bugs worked out. I am very thankful
that they take the risks but I hope that most of them do so with
caution and take the precautions, like frequent backups, that are
necessary so that they can recover from problems associated with being
on the bleeding edge of computer technology.

There have been comments about "rushed work" and "It's clear his lack
of knowledge has already caused me a LOT of problems. It's cost me
hours of work and I don't have enough spare time to waste it trying to
cater to Bob's ego or WG's unprofessionalism." If TMG5 has cost anyone
hours of work that they could not spare, THEY have made a big mistake.
In over twenty years of using computers, I have read countless times
that trusting a first release of a new product is a mistake. I have
usually followed that advice. I recommend that others do the same.

Bob and the Wholly Genes team had, in TMG 4.0, the best genealogy
program available. Now they have produced a product that out-shines
TMG4. If that is the result of a lack of knowledge and
unprofessionalism, then I believe that I have witnessed a very unusual
event. It is a first time event that is worthy of world headlines.

Richard Brogger

Dick Cleaveland wrote:
>
> At 12:26 PM 6/1/2002, Jim Byram wrote:
> >You did. The original discovery was posted on this list. As soon as I
> >saw from Laura's message that there might be a data issue, I posted a
> >message saying don't use this feature. What else do you want?
>
> Jim, it isn't just the people on this list that may be involved.
>
> In *my* view this should be the subject of a special edition of your email
> newsletter, and should include a description of what to do to repair any
> damage for people who may have used that feature.
>
> I'm assuming there WAS some damage or you wouldn't have said not to do it.
>
> Dick

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