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Subject: Re: Linux 6.11
Date: Tue, 1 Oct 2024 06:30:30 -0000 (UTC)
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On 2024-09-30, Phillip Frabott <nntp@fulltermprivacy.com> wrote:
> I've been hesitant to get involved here because of all the non-constructive back 
> and forth going on about the Cooledit program. But I'll just leave this here..
>
> I'm all for developers building new software. I don't think there is anything 
> wrong with that. Choices are always good and should be a thing we strive for. 
> However, one thing that I always look at when looking at software that tries to 
> do things the other software out there already does is, what problem is this new 
> program trying to solve? If the software does nothing innovative to solve a 
> problem that exists that isn't already solved with other software already on the 
> market then as far as I'm concerned, whats the point? It might just be a waste 
> of time. Now I haven't looked at Cooledit myself but I would have to ask what 
> exact technological issue is Cooledit solving that other software does not 
> already solve?
>
> To clarify, 'technological issue' does not mean a UI update or a modern look. I 
> mean, hard fact, there is a glaring problem that needs to be solved and cooledit 
> solves it where no one else does. Because if you can't answer that question then 
> was it really worth developing. Another thing that always gets missed when 
> trying to market a new software program is the developer doesn't know what the 
> software is bad at doing. So I'll ask the question, where is Cooledit lacking? 
> If the developer can't give a clear answer to that question or says "It does 
> everything great" then they need to go back to the drawing board and do more 
> research because there is no such thing as a perfect program and if you don't 
> know what the software is bad at then it cannot be built upon it's shortcoming 
> later and the developer hasn't looked hard enough at their program.
>
> These are two questions I always ask everyone that comes to me (at work) with a 
> new concept, idea, or finished program/product. What problem is it trying to 
> solve and what are it's shortcomings. Answer those before you try to sell 
> someone on a new product, service, or software. It will help you in the long 
> run.
>
> I won't speculate on the word of other people that are for and against Cooledit 
> because neither side really is having a constructive conversation. I will say if 
> the developer can answer the two questions above (which should include examples 
> of other software that tries to solve the same issue and comes short) then 
> that's a better spotlight advertisement.
>
> Hopefully this is coming as a constructive reply to that conversation and will 
> give everyone something to think about. I chose not to include all the back and 
> forth conversations in this thread on my reply because it's just not 
> constructive with name calling on both sides and I didn't want to get involved 
> in that aspect. I just thought I'd give my general perspective on things and 
> suggest the developers consider how they could answer the two questions I 
> proposed here as a way to find better ways to market the software and understand 
> the limitations of their software and find future improvements on it's 
> shortcomings as it's lifecycle continues.
> Phillip Frabott
> ----------
> - Adam: Is a void really a void if it returns?
> - Jack: No, it's just nullspace at that point.
> ----------

Basically I think if someone wants to release a new text editor, they don't 
have to justify doing so. Just wanting to do it is enough of a reason.

That said, neither CoolEdit or JOE are "new" applications. JOE was first 
released on August 22, 1992 and CoolEdit was originally part of Midnight 
Commander file utility, originally named "mcedit." Not sure when mcedit 
first came out, but Midnight Commander (mc) was first released in 1994. I 
think I read that mcedit, itself, came out in 1998. I don't know what's 
changed since then or how it got the CoolEdit name — or what features 
were added over the years. But CoolEdit's origin is not new.

-- 
“Evil is not able to create anything new, it can only distort and destroy 
what has been invented or made by the forces of good.”  —J.R.R. Tolkien