[FFmpeg-devel] [PATCH] configure: don't build ffserver unless explicitly enabled

[Sven C. Dack]

On 11/09/16 18:57, Clément Bœsch wrote:
> I think we disagree, because no user of a working setup will ever read the
> documentation just to check for deprecated tools. Having the warning at
> runtime is the most efficient way to reach out a maximum of users as soon
> as possible so they have time to migrate their setup. A bit like
> deprecation warning in API at build time.
>
You are trying to cater to the wrong people. There sure are people who don't 
read the documentation, but who are they? ... There are those who don't upgrade 
and consequently have no need to read NEWS or the documentation - them you don't 
need to care for obviously. They will read about it in the documentation when 
the time comes for them to upgrade. Then there are those who expect everything 
to stay the same only to learn the hard way of a change - them you don't need to 
care for and they also won't appreciate it when you do. Then there are those who 
don't read the output of ffserver, because of how they run it (i.e. from a 
script as a daemon) and who only occasionally check their logs - they either 
belong to the group of "hard learners" or they have read the documentation. Your 
point really only makes sense if you wanted to care for people who care for 
documentation, which means you should properly document it.

People who need to migrate have nothing to migrate to - they will try to use the 
existing releases as long as it works for them. They may be seeing the printed 
message for a lot longer than you would want them to. They won't find anything 
good about the loss of ffserver or having to find a replacement. They won't like 
the message, only a few will ever be actually grateful for it, but even they 
will not like it or care for it after seeing it for the hundredth time.

Sven