dhac@ur-tut.UUCP (Darren Jay Hacker) (11/06/87)
[Chomp my line, line-eater!]
I just got off the phone with those *nice* people at Ann Arbor. They said:
1. FullWrite Professional has been completed*. They are working
on removing the known and pin-pointed bugs in the program.
2. Shipment is targeted at the end of November*. We should see it
in the beginning of December.
3. Charter Subscribers: if you have already paid for FullWrite and
think that this is a scam, you CAN get a REFUND directly
from Ann Arbor Softworks. They admit that they have made
mistakes, and realize that some people will be ticked off.
I am keeping my faith in them.
* Or so they say
Send all flames, not to me, but to AAS: (805) 375-1467.
=============================================================================
Darren Jay Hacker Internet: dhac@tut.cc.rochester.edu
"The fault, dear Brutus, UUCP: dhac@ur-tut.UUCP \ / ,|.
is not in our stars, (or) ...{ames,cmcl2,decvax,rutgers} X ( | )
but in our software !rochester!ur-tut!dhac / \ `|'roberts@cognos.uucp (Robert Stanley) (11/12/87)
In article <424@ur-tut.UUCP> dhac@ur-tut.UUCP (Darren Jay Hacker) writes: >I just got off the phone with those *nice* people at Ann Arbor. They said: > 1. FullWrite Professional has been completed*. They are working > on removing the known and pin-pointed bugs in the program. > * Or so they say Even if this was only reportage of a telephone conversation with a keep-the-customers-happy person, it makes a disturbing statement. How can a program of any kind, let alone a commercial product, have been completed while programmers are still fixing it? This posting is not really a flame at Ann Arbor Softworks, but at an industry, because I have a horrible suspicion that this statement reflects an attitude which is endemic in the business. I once owned a successful software company, and if I think about it, there were reflections of such a way of thought right there at home. So what hope is there for turning this around? The Mac interface introduced a whole new way of thinking about computers. The LaserWriter introduced a whole new way of thinking about publishing. Any chance that Apple will come up with a whole new way of thinking about delivering *trustworthy* software? Ummmm, I remember talking to a manager in an IBM software lab who was witnessing a severe case of "get the product out on time, regardless of its state". On the whole, I am glad that FullWrite's introduction has been delayed until they are comfortable, and I shall look forward to reviews from those of you who decide to use it. I guess the problem is, how do we learn to estimate how much time and effort it is really going to take to do something? Robert_S -- Robert Stanley Cognos Incorporated S-mail: P.O. Box 9707 Voice: (613) 738-1440 (Research: there are 2!) 3755 Riverside Drive FAX: (613) 738-0002 Compuserve: 76174,3024 Ottawa, Ontario uucp: decvax!utzoo!dciem!nrcaer!cognos!roberts CANADA K1G 3Z4
barmar@think.COM (Barry Margolin) (11/16/87)
In article <1743@cognos.UUCP> roberts@cognos.UUCP (Robert Stanley) writes: >In article <424@ur-tut.UUCP> dhac@ur-tut.UUCP (Darren Jay Hacker) writes: > >>I just got off the phone with those *nice* people at Ann Arbor. They said: > >> 1. FullWrite Professional has been completed*. They are working >> on removing the known and pin-pointed bugs in the program. > >> * Or so they say > >Even if this was only reportage of a telephone conversation with a >keep-the-customers-happy person, it makes a disturbing statement. How can >a program of any kind, let alone a commercial product, have been completed >while programmers are still fixing it? Presumably what is mean is that all the intended features have been implemented, testing has found some bugs, and they are now being fixed. This is generally one of the last technical steps in getting a software product out (there are still non-technical steps such as packaging). >This posting is not really a flame at Ann Arbor Softworks, but at an industry, >because I have a horrible suspicion that this statement reflects an attitude >which is endemic in the business. I once owned a successful software company, >and if I think about it, there were reflections of such a way of thought right >there at home. So what hope is there for turning this around? The Mac >interface introduced a whole new way of thinking about computers. The >LaserWriter introduced a whole new way of thinking about publishing. Any >chance that Apple will come up with a whole new way of thinking about >delivering *trustworthy* software? That seems like what they are doing -- trying to deliver trustworthy software, by finding and fixing the bugs before, rather than after, shipping. They don't want to be flamed at like Microsoft was when they shipped Word 3.0 and everyone started stumbling over the bugs. Until we have programmers who can write large programs without bugs, most programs will go through the state where they are completed but not finished. This certainly isn't unique to software. For example, you can buy a house with a basement, or you can get one with a "finished" basement. You certainly wouldn't show off an unfinished basement; it's only good for very limited uses. But you can throw a party in a finished basement. The analogy isn't perfect (an unfinished basement doesn't accidentally erase your data file, although it might not be safe to walk on it barefoot), but the idea is right. --- Barry Margolin Thinking Machines Corp. barmar@think.com seismo!think!barmar
whp@apr.UUCP (11/18/87)
It just so happens that I know the brother of (one of) the developer(s) of Fullwrite. I know that the delay was caused to make a bullet-proof product; and when the ROM changed, this screwed up the projected delivery date. Well, it seems this developer had made a promise: He swore if FullWrite wasn't finished by November 15, he would have himself publicly tarred and feathered. True to his word, a photo of this memorable event will be published soon, I think in Macizine. Watch for it! When Fullwrite does show up, it should be really great. Wayne "you heard it hear first" Pollock, GEnie: W.POLLOCK (I loose Netnews access today! *sob*)