Every time we are developing software we issue a requests for functional descriptions, alpha and beta testers respond with their comments on functional features. There is plenty of opportunities for the user to intervene, for the developer just to go off on their own and develop unwarranted or requested features is irresponsible and usually represents a poor developer just writing code for the sake of code (read newbie VB coder wannabe). Not to say they are not out there, but MS is not a one man show. Seldom do I ever see a client asking the developer what he wants! usually it is spelled out very clearly and expensively what the client wants in features and ability, the developer will code to those specs.....
I do agree some of the clients pushing this kind of content may not be like you or me, a direct user, but probably a facilitator that can use the features to their benefit, but their role in software development remains the same, client with a need, and developer with the expertise.
Suffice it to say, I doubt anyone here would even consider going back to MS-DOS or giving up 1/10 of the features their choice of OS provides, it doesn't matter, what O/S they all have their vulnerabilities due to feature creatures....
I am not so sure it is a MS issue, they are developing "by popular demand". Computer users (yourself included, me too!) have demanded more automation, they want less user interaction, thus MS and everybody else will develop for these wants. I remember when email was just that data!, had to uuencode/uudecode anything binary, Gopher was the the WWW back then, automation has removed that need, but it has also left us all open to attack. If it were not for our need and desires for this automation, we would all still be using MS-DOS or Unix....
If this project is so important, and there area so many people for it, surly the few million could be raised through private means. It is not a lot of money we are talking about here. The reason it is not being raised now, is there are not that many interested. Don't blame the politicians, you guys are to blame... put your money where your mouth is and raise the money or speak up..... I for one have no problem letting some of these projects die and would not want my tax dollars going to them as much as I do not want them going to products of war..
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Every time we are developing software we issue a requests for functional descriptions, alpha and beta testers respond with their comments on functional features. There is plenty of opportunities for the user to intervene, for the developer just to go off on their own and develop unwarranted or requested features is irresponsible and usually represents a poor developer just writing code for the sake of code (read newbie VB coder wannabe). Not to say they are not out there, but MS is not a one man show. Seldom do I ever see a client asking the developer what he wants! usually it is spelled out very clearly and expensively what the client wants in features and ability, the developer will code to those specs..... I do agree some of the clients pushing this kind of content may not be like you or me, a direct user, but probably a facilitator that can use the features to their benefit, but their role in software development remains the same, client with a need, and developer with the expertise. Suffice it to say, I doubt anyone here would even consider going back to MS-DOS or giving up 1/10 of the features their choice of OS provides, it doesn't matter, what O/S they all have their vulnerabilities due to feature creatures....
I am not so sure it is a MS issue, they are developing "by popular demand". Computer users (yourself included, me too!) have demanded more automation, they want less user interaction, thus MS and everybody else will develop for these wants. I remember when email was just that data!, had to uuencode/uudecode anything binary, Gopher was the the WWW back then, automation has removed that need, but it has also left us all open to attack. If it were not for our need and desires for this automation, we would all still be using MS-DOS or Unix....
If this project is so important, and there area so many people for it, surly the few million could be raised through private means. It is not a lot of money we are talking about here. The reason it is not being raised now, is there are not that many interested. Don't blame the politicians, you guys are to blame... put your money where your mouth is and raise the money or speak up..... I for one have no problem letting some of these projects die and would not want my tax dollars going to them as much as I do not want them going to products of war..