Date: Mon, 17 Jul 2000 14:05:16 -0400 (EDT) From: Michael Lucas <mwlucas@blackhelicopters.org> To: alex@big.endian.de (Alexander Langer) Cc: freebsd-arch@freebsd.org Subject: Bikesheds Message-ID: <200007171805.OAA05517@blackhelicopters.org> In-Reply-To: <20000717183918.A26484@cichlids.cichlids.com> from Alexander Langer at "Jul 17, 2000 6:39:18 pm"
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> > What is this thing with the bikesheds??? > > It appears on every place I am, on IRC, now here. > > As a non-native English-speaker, I'd like to know what's up with the > poor bikesheds. The poor ones :-( Actually, I believe it's a FreeBSDism. You see, when it comes to the advanced topics such as how to redesign the VM subsystem or how to implement DEVFS, there are only a few people who can competently comment. They reach a consensus amongst themselves, and work proceeds apace. When it comes to more basic, general topics, more people can comment. Any competent coder could write code for function X, so every competent coder on the list feels obliged to make comments about function X. Similarly, almost everyone also feels competent to describe the weaknesses in other approaches. The discussion drags, and drags, and drags. It's like construction work. Very few people can build a skyscraper, but anyone can build a bike shed. When someone mentions "painting the bikeshed" it means "we've argued about this long enough, most of the solutions are just fine, will you please just implement one and SHUT UP?" (subject changed so hopefully the search engines will pick it up) ==ml To Unsubscribe: send mail to majordomo@FreeBSD.org with "unsubscribe freebsd-arch" in the body of the message
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