> i understood what Russ said to mean: patches -- for enhancements that > "might" someday have a use or fixes that remove some perceived > shortcoming lacking an actual need -- are scary.
Not if they are first discussed in the type of forum that is savvy to both the immediate effects and the hidden long term consequences. I think that was a misguided generalisation. If I had it at my fingertip, I would quote R.A. Heinlein's comment about democracy and dictatorship. I'd be curious to hear the Plan 9 developers' take on how significant they deem contributions from us peanut gallery, sometimes it seems they very much prefer us all to just go away, as Uriel seems to suggest. Other times they seem positively thrilled to have us around. A more consistent policy would be a lot easier to work with, whichever side it took. ++L PS: Of course, Russ does not represent all Plan 9 developers (I have a feeling and a deep respect for the fact that he may well often be the sole heir to the title of Plan 9 developer :-) and I am a very reluctant critic of someone whose contributions appear to have single-handedly shaped Plan 9. I'm sure that his outburst was nothing more than reaction under stressing circumstances.
