Path: utzoo!utgpu!water!watmath!clyde!att!chinet!mcdchg!ddsw1!karl
From: karl@ddsw1.UUCP (Karl Denninger)
Newsgroups: comp.sources.d
Subject: Re: PATCH usage
Summary: Please, let's be reasonable....
Message-ID: <1353@ddsw1.UUCP>
Date: 8 Jul 88 05:41:50 GMT
References: <393@sce.UUCP> <1129@sun.soe.clarkson.edu> <1323@ddsw1.UUCP> <4764@vdsvax.steinmetz.ge.com>
Reply-To: karl@ddsw1.UUCP (Karl Denninger)
Organization: Macro Computer Solutions, Inc., Mundelein, IL
Lines: 39

In article <4764@vdsvax.steinmetz.ge.com> barnett@vdsvax.steinmetz.ge.com (Bruce G. Barnett) writes:
>In article <1323@ddsw1.UUCP> karl@ddsw1.UUCP (Karl Denninger) writes:
>|But the enormous volume engendered by all the patch traffic is the point of
>|contention.  It is very inefficient to send a 90K original posting, then
>|200K of patches.  Much, much better to send the original, patched...
>
>It is better to get 13 patches than 13 copies of the entire
>distribution. 

I'm not arguing for dispensing with the patch process -- just for 25 
different sets.  

What I was suggesting was that when the patch size gets out of hand (ie: when
you post 200K of patches consisting of several sets, all at once to a 90K 
source) that consideration be given to sending another, base, distribution.

This both cuts traffic and increases the average information content to the
net as a whole in the group.  Here's how:

o Those who don't have the posting will get the entire package at the
  next full repost, whenever it may occur.  Thus, for these users, it
  has a much higher utility than "another patch" would have.

o Those who do already have the original get the same utility as they would
  from a patch; that is, a new version with bug fixes and enhancements.

I don't think that I was advocating complete reposts for each bug and
fix....... that would be a gross waste.   What I was advocating was common
sense instead of the "make it easier on the authors" approach.   When we're
talking major upgrade (ie: major version change) you're probably best off
doing a repost; context diffs get enormous.  A place to start would likely
be 75-80% of the size of a reposting... and adjust to taste and net.desire.

Now the mahjong tiles, that is 'nother matter, better left to a 
different group or unsaid completely :-)

--
Karl Denninger (ddsw1!karl) Data: (312) 566-8912, Voice: (312) 566-8910
Macro Computer Solutions, Inc.    "Quality solutions at a fair price"