Re: Linux 6.11

On 2024-09-30, Phillip Frabott <nntp@fulltermprivacy.com> wrote:

I've been hesitant to get involved here because of all the non-constructive back
and forth going on about the Cooledit program. But I'll just leave this here..
>
I'm all for developers building new software. I don't think there is anything
wrong with that. Choices are always good and should be a thing we strive for.
However, one thing that I always look at when looking at software that tries to
do things the other software out there already does is, what problem is this new
program trying to solve? If the software does nothing innovative to solve a
problem that exists that isn't already solved with other software already on the
market then as far as I'm concerned, whats the point? It might just be a waste
of time. Now I haven't looked at Cooledit myself but I would have to ask what
exact technological issue is Cooledit solving that other software does not
already solve?
>
To clarify, 'technological issue' does not mean a UI update or a modern look. I
mean, hard fact, there is a glaring problem that needs to be solved and cooledit
solves it where no one else does. Because if you can't answer that question then
was it really worth developing. Another thing that always gets missed when
trying to market a new software program is the developer doesn't know what the
software is bad at doing. So I'll ask the question, where is Cooledit lacking?
If the developer can't give a clear answer to that question or says "It does
everything great" then they need to go back to the drawing board and do more
research because there is no such thing as a perfect program and if you don't
know what the software is bad at then it cannot be built upon it's shortcoming
later and the developer hasn't looked hard enough at their program.
>
These are two questions I always ask everyone that comes to me (at work) with a
new concept, idea, or finished program/product. What problem is it trying to
solve and what are it's shortcomings. Answer those before you try to sell
someone on a new product, service, or software. It will help you in the long
run.
>
I won't speculate on the word of other people that are for and against Cooledit
because neither side really is having a constructive conversation. I will say if
the developer can answer the two questions above (which should include examples
of other software that tries to solve the same issue and comes short) then
that's a better spotlight advertisement.
>
Hopefully this is coming as a constructive reply to that conversation and will
give everyone something to think about. I chose not to include all the back and
forth conversations in this thread on my reply because it's just not
constructive with name calling on both sides and I didn't want to get involved
in that aspect. I just thought I'd give my general perspective on things and
suggest the developers consider how they could answer the two questions I
proposed here as a way to find better ways to market the software and understand
the limitations of their software and find future improvements on it's
shortcomings as it's lifecycle continues.
Phillip Frabott
----------
- Adam: Is a void really a void if it returns?
- Jack: No, it's just nullspace at that point.
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Basically I think if someone wants to release a new text editor, they don't
have to justify doing so. Just wanting to do it is enough of a reason.

That said, neither CoolEdit or JOE are "new" applications. JOE was first
released on August 22, 1992 and CoolEdit was originally part of Midnight
Commander file utility, originally named "mcedit." Not sure when mcedit
first came out, but Midnight Commander (mc) was first released in 1994. I
think I read that mcedit, itself, came out in 1998. I don't know what's
changed since then or how it got the CoolEdit name — or what features
were added over the years. But CoolEdit's origin is not new.

--
“Evil is not able to create anything new, it can only distort and destroy
what has been invented or made by the forces of good.”  —J.R.R. Tolkien