[comp.sys.apollo] APRs, patches, and whatnot

derstad@CIM-VAX.HONEYWELL.COM ("DAVE ERSTAD") (04/15/89)

Just wanted to take exception to an earlier posting about patches
(sorry, lost the orignal text).  The gist was if a patch causes 
collateral problems, Apollo shouldn't ship it.

Wrong!  If I'
Wrong!  If I'm dead in the water due to some bug, and Apollo has
a patch that fixes the bug but breaks XYZ, nine times out of ten
I can be running again.  I don't want to wait for the ultimately
tested, fully functional patch which resolves anything.  I'll
take whatever they've got, provided that
    -  the status (i.e. how good, how tested) of the patch is 
       clearly communicated
    -  They tell me about any known problems/co-dependencies

Given this, I can make an informed decision as to whether
I want the patch or not.  

Dave Erstad
Honeywell SSEC
Usual disclaimers