Re: Captain Jake's Top Ten List of what I'd like to see inthenextversionofDelphi

Jolyon Smith wrote:
Not directly relevant I guess, but the answer to this is _usually_ "a
lot less than you might think". The trick is to focus on the time
required to develop/test/maintain those bits that you need, rather than
trying to replicate the components completely, including the bits you
don't need and will probably never use or at least can live without.

Sure, but that also assumes that you have the expertise to actually
build those things. I don't have that depth of experience in certain
areas, and I'm quite content to purchase code from those that do.

And if the version you require is a deprecated version for which no
source will be provided, no way no how? Or if the vendor has since gone
out of business?

Just looking at it from a slightly less optimistic p.o.v.

Sure, those are all possibilities and risks to factor into the whole
"buy" choice. OTOH, it cuts both ways if you lose a valuable employee.
Also, there are often a few choices for a given third party
product...so there is ability to replace them (although this can be
extremely painful).

Can't speak for the other guy in his particular case, of course, but the
fact that "most" offer cheap upgrades isn't actually much help if the
_one_ that I need doesn't.

lol...of course not. But it's pretty easy to look at a vendor's track
record in this regard and make a reasonable judgment.

However, I can understand the frustration where source code is/was not
available for a component that absolutely had to be used to save time
and expense, not-with-standing the risk of using a non-source component
(see your own point #1 in this post).

Sure, I can understand the frustration. But the fundamental issue for
me is with the vendor themselves. I don't think it's worth it for DevCo
to spend time trying to "solve" this problem that isn't a part of their
core product.

Making DCU's compatible in this way wouldn't prevent you from doing
things "properly" (using components+source where possible) but would at
least not leave you high and dry if you choose or are forced not to do
things properly.

At what cost though? How much would you *pay* to fund this R&D? I
think it would unnecessarily handcuff DevCo and cost more than I'm
willing to pay. I'd rather give them the latitude to make broad and
courageous changes if need be and use the extra money to buy the source
edition of my components. ;)

fwiw - I still think it's a less than great idea, but as I said, can
understand the frustration.

gotcha. ;)

--
Brian Moelk
Brain Endeavor LLC
bmoelk@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
.

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