[Ietf-calsify] Status of simplification work

[Mark Crispin]

On Thu, 25 May 2006, George Sexton wrote:
> I'm suggesting improving interoperability by increasing the probability that 
> an implementer of average skill will get this part right. Do you want a 
> standard that only extremely skilled programmers will have any chance of 
> delivering a correct implementation, or do you want a standard that most 
> people will be able to do correctly?

This may not be a popular view, but it bears stating:

Given my druthers, I would prefer to have a standard that only an 
extremely skilled programmer is capable of delivering any implementation 
at all.  There is a much greater chance of getting multiple quality, 
interoperable, implementations if the incompetant are completely locked 
out.

I have been asked, on multiple occasions, effectively to write the 
protocol engine for an application that some cheapskate contracted to the 
lowest bidder...and to do this service for free.  On other occasions, I 
have been asked protocol questions that are so elementary that it is 
painfully clear that the individual never read the specification (or even 
one of the excellent pedagogical texts that describe the protocol). 
Worse, he makes it clear that he has no intention of doing so; he expects 
me to answer the questions that come up when empirical testing won't 
deliver the answer.

-- Mark --

http://staff.washington.edu/mrc
Science does not emerge from voting, party politics, or public debate.
Si vis pacem, para bellum.