> An interesting analogy (and why is it that automotive analogies insist > on > cropping up in software development matters?). > > Your car manufacturer presumably doesn't tell you that in most cases > you > should just ignore those settings - they are there specifically and > precisely to add "functionality". The manufacturer isn't trying to > pretend > that their default auto setting are going to work for everyone. > > The GC on the other hand is supposed to just work, and the advice is > "leave > it alone"... but (they add) *in case* you need to there are these > additional > controls... but really, best leave them alone, because if you *do* use > them > then you will create other problems. > > Using "economy" mode won't break your car. > > "Tuning" the GC can cause serious issues for your application. > > > So the analogy breaks down a little - these aren't "economy" and > "performance" settings, they are "Service Mode" settings not intended > for > you to use except in extremis. > > > Extending the analogy waaaay beyond breaking point... when automatic > transmissions are great when they work, but when they go wrong they > cost a > helluva lot more to fix/maintain than a manual box. > > And there will be times when the auto transmission is frustratingly > limiting > and prevent you from obtaining the full performance of which the rest > of > your vehicle is capable. > > > If all you ever do is the school/grocery run, then an automatic may > suit you > just fine, but if you want more flexibility, lower maintenance and fuel > costs and more fun, plain and simple, from your vehicle then a manual > box is > the way to go. > > ;) >
I was trying to be funny rather than accurate :). It's an analogy that breaks down pretty quickly. The person who originally used the gearbox/gc analogy on me did so to explain why he would never use a gc. He also added that he only drove a manual because that is what the F1 drivers used, so I rapidly lost interest in his opinion. But it does come down to appropriate use. A gc is great for some applications, ok for some and completely useless for others. Exactly the same applies to manual memory management. Sean _______________________________________________ NZ Borland Developers Group - Delphi mailing list Post: delphi@delphi.org.nz Admin: http://delphi.org.nz/mailman/listinfo/delphi Unsubscribe: send an email to delphi-requ...@delphi.org.nz with Subject: unsubscribe
