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Date:      Thu, 07 Nov 2002 17:10:17 -0800
From:      Terry Lambert <tlambert2@mindspring.com>
To:        Sam Leffler <sam@errno.com>
Cc:        Julian Elischer <julian@elischer.org>, arch@FreeBSD.ORG, "Long, Scott" <Scott_Long@adaptec.com>, re@FreeBSD.ORG, Maksim Yevmenkin <myevmenk@exodus.net>, Murray Stokely <murray@freebsdmall.com>
Subject:   Re: Bluetooth code
Message-ID:  <3DCB0EF9.617D66B5@mindspring.com>
References:  <Pine.BSF.4.21.0211071328530.5860-100000@InterJet.elischer.org> <038501c286b2$5efb1890$52557f42@errno.com> <3DCAFCA8.DF1FF47A@mindspring.com> <03fc01c286c1$59e2a170$52557f42@errno.com>

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Sam Leffler wrote:
> > The counterargument is "port NetGraph to NetBSD, OpenBSD, and BSDI".
> >
> > The issue that's being raised here is "Who gets to lead the parade?";
> > the answer "Be a follower, not a leader" isn't very satisfying to
> > anyone.
> 
> The issue is should we commit something to the source tree that may be of
> limited use to people.  If the software provides functionality to a
> significant group of people then I'm open to its inclusion  regardless of
> whether it's present in any other system.  However one must not lose sight
> that adding code to the source tree has a cost, independent of whether it is
> "hooked up to the build".  If the code doesn't have someone to maintain it
> as the system changes then it can become a boat anchor.

Well, the Bluetooth code has an active developer, it has some
applications that are available for it already, and it's severable
from the main source tree in a way that boat anchors aren't.

There's some small argument that's valid, that if ports are written
to use a Netgraph bluetooth stack, they won't be that portable to
other BSD's that don't have Netgraph.  This is a valid argument,
but it appears that NetBSD doesn't even have real Bluetooth at this,
point, so it's kind of moot.


> Code rot is unhealthy for maintaining quality software.  Code rot
> happens quickly when noone uses it.

I disagree.  There is no such thing as code rot.  There are only
jerks who changes working interfaces, and fail to maintain the
code that uses them.  I have an example list a mile long on that
one, too.  Institutionalizing the acceptability of "code rot" is
institutionalizing the acceptability of being a jerk.  It's a
completely seperate issue from whether or not code falls into
disuse.

-- Terry

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