Possibilities - Letter From Phil 2/91

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LETTER FROM PHIL 2/91
---------------------

*** From February 1991 Possibilities Newsletter ***
*** Copyright 1991 by eSoft, Inc.  All Rights Reserved ***

Letter from Phil
by Phil Becker

Writing software affects an author in many ways.  It requires a depth of 
concentration and focus that is unlike most other things we do in life.  The 
closest thing I have found to it is writing a long article or book.  Software, 
however, has one difference -- it is tested when it is used and if it is not 
perfect it is seen to be flawed.  Since no human endeavor can ever be perfect,
software authors face an inherently impossible task. 

For most things we do in life, good is enough and perfect is never expected.  
When a machine is doing the evaluation, however, there is no way to hide your 
flaws.  If a book was 99% correct it would be hailed as a masterpiece, if 
software is only 99% correct it is nearly useless. 

The result of this is that programmers have to create defense mechanisms to 
deal with the fact that everything we do is a failure, and it can and will be 
proved -- repeatedly.  You have to be a very self-confident person to deal 
with this if your software is widely used. 

I personally deal with this aspect of writing software by having a very wide 
variety of outside interests.  If you have read this newsletter for more than 
a few months you can see many of them show here.  This helps me keep the 
"software author" portion of my life in perspective most of the time. 

However, there comes a time for each program I write when it has to leave the 
safety of my den and be seen in public.  This occurs before it is ready, since 
there is no way to create software which is even close to perfect without 
extensive testing.  Those of us who face this problem have even devised a 
method to deal with this most awkward and difficult stage of development.  We 
name each stage of the testing process with Greek letters (Alpha, Beta, etc.) 
so that we can tell ourselves that everyone understands what is expected. 

After all, if the software isn't done yet, and problems are expected, then it 
is just part of the process when horrible crashes happen.  I mean it isn't 
really my fault if when a tester loses all of their messages (sorry Pete).  
Its only an Alpha test, now is it?  Isn't the human mind a wonderfully 
adaptive thing? 

You can now see a portion of my plan for the "next step" in the development of 
TBBS on the support board.  At this stage of its creation I am free to have 
delusions that I can cram everything I ever wanted TBBS to be into the next 
release.  As the process grinds on, I will of course have to face the reality 
that some things will have to wait for another time. 

Past experience with this process allows me to keep much more perspective now 
than I could many years ago.  So I think I can tell you in a reasonably 
objective way that TBBS 2.2 will be an amazing product -- even if some things 
I am now planning to put in don't make it.  An early favorite is "Instant 
ZMODEM".  This is already in the alpha test version on the support board.  It 
is the fastest starting and running ZMODEM in the world.  The first time you 
use it it will startle you. 

You will also see the fallout from the multi-lingual capabilities.  You can 
100% customize all of the TBBS internal text strings.  Coupled with the 
ability to ask TBBS to insert text strings such as the user's name, line 
number, etc. anywhere in a text file this gives you even greater freedom to 
build totally custom presentations. 

TBBS 2.2 will have a 64 user version.  In order to provide that capability, I 
have to make everything within TBBS use 1/2 the CPU time of 2.1.  So you will 
see a marked increase in the "snappiness" and response of TBBS 2.2, even if 
you never use a system that large. 

The magic question, of course, is when will TBBS 2.2 be available.  The 
truthful answer is that I don't know.  I hope to be able to develop it rapidly 
and test it well enough to have it out in the June to July time frame.  
However, at this stage in a program's development, it dictates the pace.  As 
we get closer I will announce a firm release date.  Next time I'll tell you 
about what is going to happen on the low end of the product line, and what the 
upgrade options and pricing will be.  Stay tuned... 

- END -
PS0291-1
Rev. 2/91

Copyright (C) 1994 eSoft, Inc., All Rights Reserved.  Permission granted
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