[WT-support] Fwd: Microham u2R behavior with Win-Test

[Peter Stuge]

Joe Subich, W4TV wrote:
> Let me make one thing *absolutely* clear - "Router 7.7.5" is not
> available to anyone at this time.  "Router 7.7.5" was developmental
> software that contains debugging code and incomplete support for
> other products that renders it unfit for general use.

As a fellow software developer I think you could benefit from looking
at this situation also in another way.

I started writing software some 20 years ago so I'm not as
experienced as many others, and I only discovered open source 15
years ago, but that pretty much immediately became my only focus,
because it is obvious to me that it is the only halfway efficient
way to achieve high technical quality software.

It's fine for people to use buggy code with all sorts of ugly
development junk in there. Many people are happy anyway, and the
people that have a clue may even try to help fix bugs as their time
permits. They do need access to the source, however, or their hands
are tied.

If noone has clues or time then they can at least always beg or bribe
someone else to help out on their behalf.

My point is that more testing gives more information leads to fewer
bugs. The software benefits directly if more people run the code than
you had first intended.


> It has issues that impact other products and other software due to
> the developmental code.

I think that's fine too. I expect radio amateurs in particular to
understand these things; ie. that there's a tradeoff between
functionality and debugging.


> on the basis that they not disclose and not share the code with any
> other person (including guest operators)

I genuinely believe you do not need to worry, even though that
version has spread.

Should you find yourself having to deal with support requests that
involve this version then you can immediately dismiss them then and
there, explaining how 7.7.5 was just a testing version which your
regular support agreements doesn't cover, and ask to re-test with a
supported version. Until that happens, if 7.7.5 helps anyone in any
way whatsoever then that's a good thing, right?


//Peter