Re: Make bug package required? (was Re: berolist.deb)
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On Sun, 11 May 1997, Christoph Lameter wrote:
> >Just try to figure out the stink someone would make on a linux newsgroup:
> >Friggin' Debian system posted my password to the world...
>
> Debian did not. The user made the decision to post that password.
I recall some of the worst PR for Windows (at least around here) was that
its registration wizard searches your harddrive for illegal copies of MS
products and reports them (I don't know if it is true or not, but as a
matter of public opinion, people thought it was). Your reply would be
"just don't do it." The problem with that is that people are not always as
fully informed as you (you wrote it, you know what it does). If I put
debian on a machine for a colleague that wants it, for instance, to use
TeX in a useful environment, might not even realize the security risks
involved, an may not find out until it is too late. Blaming the user for
doing things that are somewhat transparent doesn't seem like a
constructive policy to me.
> Another example: Any user can do
>
> rm -rf /
What are you talking about? Perhaps you always work as root, but I don't
think you should assume that of all users.
> Common sense? I think what we have here is a problem with people dreaming
> of ideal software again and putting obstacles in the way of progress in
> the name of some idealistic *political correctness* of software. It has
> to be perfect or we cannot have it. Nothing is perfect on this world.
> Maybe we better stop developing software?
There is something between black and white. No program is ever going to be
perfect, but to strive for that goal is useful and constructive. Why do so
many programs ask you to confirm an potentially irreversible action? I
really don't understand why you seem so hostile regarding making bug a
"safer" program (if the altercations to bug are possible). I myself think
bug is a good program and makes life much easier, but as you said no
program is perfect and there is always room for improvement.
Cheers, Colin.
- --
Colin R. Telmer, Institute of Intergovernmental Relations
School of Policy Studies, Queen's University
Kingston, Ontario, Canada, K7L-3N6
(613)545-6000x4219 telmerco@qed.econ.queensu.ca
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