Re: Should 4.1 keep supporting pre-4.0 syntax?

[Hans-Bernhard B. <br...@ph...>]

On Mon, 12 Jul 2004, Petr Mikulik wrote:

> Gnuplot version cycle is at about 5 years. 

Where did you pick up that number?  From where I stand, gnuplot has no
version cycle expressable in terms of time to speak of. And it hasn't had
one ever since Alex Woo's released his last 3.5 in 1993. Ever since the
3.6-beta phase, we've always stated that we do *not* plan ahead in terms
of time, but rather release when we think the stuff is ready.

> Well, Octave is a major application using gnuplot, and we should wait until
> they get accustomed to new gnuplot 

Them getting accustomed is not the point --- them using our latest
work-in-progress snapshot, while not willing to keep their own software at
least roughly up to date, is.  If they want to use bleeding-edge gnuplot
without taking proper care: fine, let them cut themselves.  Might teach
them a lesson.

> We could switch off the compatibility "by default" shortly before releasing
> the current cvs as gnuplot 4.1. But not before. (I could not test it, for
> example.)

I disagree.  Breaking down compatibility bridges is something that has to
be done *early* in a development cycle, like right now.  Shortly before an
actual release would IMHO be exactly the wrong time to make such
modifications.

-- 
Hans-Bernhard Broeker (br...@ph...)
Even if all the snow were burnt, ashes would remain.