Pidgin Controversy Triggers Fork

paleshadows writes "Pidgin, the premier multi-protocol instant messaging client, has been forked. This is the result of a heated, emotional, and very interesting debate over a controversial new feature: As of version 2.4, the ability to manually resize the text input area has been removed; instead, it automatically resizes depending on how much is typed. It turns out that this feature, along with the uncompromising unwillingness of the developers to provide an option to turn it off, annoys the bejesus of very many users. One comment made by a Professor that teaches "Collaboration in an Open Source World" argued that 'It's easy to see why open source developers could develop dogmas. [...] The most dangerous dogma is the one exhibited here: the God feature. "One technological solution can meet every possible user-desired variation of a feature." [...] You [the developers] are ignoring the fan base with a dedication to your convictions that is alarmingly evident to even the most unobservant of followers, and as such, you are demonstrating that you no longer deserve to be in the position of servicing the needs of your user base.'" Does anyone besides me find this utterly ridiculous?

Comments

Premier?

[emc]

Pidgin, the premier multi-protocol instant messaging clientâ¦

Premier? Seriously?

I LOL'd

Anonymous Coward

[Anonymous Coward]

Here's a thought: unless the developers are getting paid for the work they're doing, do the users have any claim on what the developers do? If someone is fronting the greens for keeping these developers in jolt cola and kleenex then surely it's their say what stays and what goes?

People can request features, ask for bug fixes and if change is not forthcoming they're free to make the changes themselves or stop using the software.