[FFmpeg-cvslog] [ffmpeg.org]: r455 - trunk/src/download

[Diego Biurrun]

On Wed, Jun 16, 2010 at 04:18:04AM +0200, Michael Niedermayer wrote:
> On Tue, Jun 15, 2010 at 02:03:09PM +0200, Diego Biurrun wrote:
> > 
> > I suggest you spend your time on FFmpeg instead of wasting it with
> > silly flame wars.
> 
> Iam the leader of the project and iam responsible for the quality and
> accuracy of the information on the download page of ffmpeg.org
> We might be forgetting to mention issues and we might be too busy to
> add an exhaustive list of known issues but we will not knowingly
> withold information about known issues in the releases from our users.
> And i dont care if its written on some unrelated page somewhere, or if a smart
> user can deduct it from common sense and noted dates, clearvoyance
> of how stable svn is and how many features have been added.
> An average user cannot even know if svn has had a single commit since
> the release was cut. The dates alone are not sufficient

There is no such thing as an "average" user[1].  People just talk about
"users" or "average users" to generate arguments for their position out
of thin air.

We make source-only releases.  People who compile Unix software are not
the prototypical aunt Tilly.  You can expect them to know basic facts
and make obvious deductions.

Now I'm not going to flame any further as this is not going to get us
anywere.  Let it just be said that your worries about confusing users
and us creating damage by putting out releases and you talking about
"moral obligations" when it comes to pushing people away from using
releases or whatever are taking things a little too far IMNSHO.

As the project leader you are not only responsible for users, you are
also responsible for keeping your devs motivated.  There is considerable
room for improvement in this area.

Reinhard and I are investing serious amounts of time into work that many
people (and users) consider valuable.  However, we are not receiving any
appreciation, much less support, from the project leader.  This is not
stopping us from doing releases, but often it feels as if we are doing
it despite all the heckling.

And now I'm going to shut up as promised.

Diego

[1] Unless you make a professional survey to find out who and what
your users are.