Multiple implementations a good thing [LWN.net]

Multiple implementations a good thing

Posted Jan 1, 2008 21:10 UTC (Tue) by tuna (guest, #44480)
In reply to: Multiple implementations a good thing by tialaramex
Parent article: A Perl 6 status update

So write the patch and have the main authors yank it out later. Or write a "libbutton" for
whatever you need.

Your argument would be much better if you could point to a real example where this has
happened.

And as always, you can ask other people to do stuff as much as you want, but if no one wants
to actually do the work, the stuff won't get done.

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Here's your example

Posted Jan 2, 2008 17:43 UTC (Wed) by tialaramex (subscriber, #21167) [Link]

Not that I'm bitter or anything, but take a look at how the GIMP is still waiting, years later
in 2008, for "GEGL integration" that's supposed to finally deliver the features slated for
GIMP 2.0 all those years ago.

What the users wanted, more than anything*, was high dynamic range. It wouldn't have been
trivial to do it, maybe several of the old hands would have to spend a few weeks hacking on
dirty low-level code in the GIMP core, in addition to all the work from lesser mortals like
myself - but it was definitely possible, and it could have been delivered in GIMP 2.0 if the
will had existed.

But not only did the will not exist, there was a specific argument that this work was not
merely unnecessary but actively counter-productive. All that effort was supposed instead to be
directed to GEGL. Which rotted slowly in a corner for years because no-one really had the
combination of time and enthusiasm to work on something so completely abstract and unconnected
with reality.

* OK, the thing users actually wanted more than anything was a tool that drew straight lines,
but that's because users don't read, don't want to read, and particularly don't want to read
manuals. Once they'd read the manual or been told politely what it says about drawing a
straight line they generally settled on wanting high dynamic range.