falgiano@MITRE.ARPA (Frank Falgiano) (12/17/86)
Re; Message from Oscar SToud The success or failure of any reuse effort in software is directly proportional to the quality of specific feedback. Saying that there are problems in the repository don't give the implementers or users a chance to fix the problems. In terms of feedback here is what is needed: - identification of problem areas, - type of problem, ie run-time performance, core hog, task wild, lack of software engineering, no internal documentation, poor exception handling, difficult to follow execution path during maintenance analysis - fixes or work arounds that have been implemented to include why there are advantages The point is there is no such thing as a free lunch. Reusable software requires work to keep it current and flexible. LtCol Falgiano.
karl@grebyn.com (Karl A. Nyberg) (12/17/86)
[ LtCol Frank Falgiano writes: > > The point is there is no such thing as a free lunch. Reusable software > requires work to keep it current and flexible. "TANSTAAFL - There Ain't No Such Thing As A Free Lunch" -- often attributed to Chuck Howell ] One interesting comment made by Lt. Col. Courtwright (Terry - correct me if I'm wrong here) at the Washington, DC SigAda Chapter meeting last Wednesday (10 December 1986) was made with regard to use and commercialization of the WIS software placed in the repository. He stated that he (whether speaking for himself, the WIS project, the DoD, etc. - I don't know) would have no problem with contractors / vendors picking up the software that WIS had developed and put into the public domain, investing additional work into cleaning up the software, adding functionality, documentation, etc., and then turning around and selling it back as a product. I believe that he mentioned in particular this route was being taken by several contractors / vendors with regards to some of the GKS tools in the repository. Thus, if you invest the effort to make the "free" software usable to you, and perhaps to others, you might be able to recoup some of your investment in this manner. In cases where these tools were developed as a one-shot program (i.e., where nobody's getting paid to support or maintain them now), it might indeed be useful (and perhaps profitable) for somebody to pick up the code and provide such enhancements and ongoing support. There may not be any free lunches, but that doesn't mean they have to be expensive. A significant amount of investment has already been placed in the initial development of this software, and can perhaps be leveraged profitably. -- Karl -- DDN: nyberg@ada20.isi.edu INET: karl@grebyn.com (only if your computer does domains or MX records) uucp: {decuac, seismo}!grebyn!karl
rgenter@J.BBN.COM (Rick Genter) (12/17/86)
Karl Nyberg writes: > > [ LtCol Frank Falgiano writes: > > > > The point is there is no such thing as a free lunch. Reusable software > > requires work to keep it current and flexible. > > "TANSTAAFL - There Ain't No Such Thing As A Free Lunch" > -- often attributed to Chuck Howell ] TANSTAAFL as an acronym was originated by Robert A. Heinlein in the 50s (or was it the 40s?). - Rick -------- Rick Genter BBN Laboratories Inc. (617) 497-3848 10 Moulton St. 6/512 rgenter@bbn.COM (Internet new) Cambridge, MA 02238 rgenter@bbnj.ARPA (Internet old) seismo!bbn.com!rgenter (UUCP)