On Nov 17, 2005 at 2:26pm "Frisbee®" blathered:
> "JaR" <jrderby@lakabux.com> wrote in message
> news:Xns97117260DAF8BMisanthrope@207.46.248.16...
>> In microsoft.public.cert.exam.mcse, Jtyc spewed across the ether:
>>
>>>> Thankfully, we still have Microsoft.
>>>
>>> You think Bill is still testing us?
>>>
>>
>> Where would be the fun if all software "just worked"?
>>
>> Or the jobs, for that matter.
>
> Much like the idea of the forever battery, the 1000 mpg automobile,
etc.
> it would not make economic sense for a program to be 100% bug-free.
> That's why you won't find a programmer who is capable of writing
> completely bug-free software. In the early days, there was some
> software that was bug-free, but the companies that wrote them quickly
> went out of business because there was no need for technical support.
> And since the programs had every feature any user could ever possibly
> want, there was no need to upgrade the software for future upgrade
fees.
>
> These days, the perfect programmer has either disappeared, or has
> learned to use his mad programming skillz for evil, and is therefore
in
> high demand. Your typical bad programmer will not do, as while he or
she
> can write really bad code that will ensure that there will be a need
for
> technical support and updates, their code is often so bad, that the
> program oft times cannot be fixed at all, and hence you get the
company
> going out of business again.
>
> These new age skilled demon programmers are capable of placing
> ingeniously designed "features" into the software which will cause the
> client problems, but only after having enough time for the check to
> clear, and for the client to have become completely invested in the
> software, to where they must purchase technical support and upgrades
in
> versions, whether they want the new features or not.
>
> Ironically, this marketing scheme has even crept into the developer
> market itself. Various third-party component developers, such as
> Component One, create grids and other ActiveX controls with
intentional
> brick walls in them. Then they charge a yearly fee so that you can
get
> upgrades with all new brick walls in them. When you report a problem
in
> their high-tech newsgroups, they have a bot or two that reply
"Download
> the latest version and try again!" Unfortunately, if you are not on
> their income stream, you will download their latest update, which will
> fix your reported problem, but also introduce new problems, one of
which
> is that you now have "trialware" instead of your older, buggier
version.
> Ingenious programmers, have they. All previous bugs are fixed! And
> new, exciting ones await, as you read all the other messages in the
> forums.
>
> Ah, to be such a skilled developer, making the big bucks, and laughing
> all the way to the embankment.
I didn't know you worked for M$ Fris.
--
TGP MCNGP #100100
http://www.techgeekpro.com
I'll 'ave one slice of strawberry tart with not so much rat in it.