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Date: Fri, 11 Sep 2015 14:23:28 -0400
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From: DJ Delorie <dj AT delorie DOT com>
To: geda-user AT delorie DOT com
In-reply-to: <960028A6-F16B-4276-B838-E9F0D2959A6F@noqsi.com> (message from
	John Doty on Fri, 11 Sep 2015 12:03:21 -0600)
Subject: Re: [geda-user] About reinventing the wheel, and how to avoid it
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> So you don't really want to attract new users: only existing users
> count.

I do want to attract new users.  I consider listening to existing
users to be a good starting point to that, since they have insight on
how the tools can be easier to use for new users.  I want to grow the
existing tools, not write new ones from scratch.

> And then, you bemoan the fact that you can't attract new users. And
> you blame the messenger.

I bemoan the fact that I can't attract new users because they come to
these forums and see the hostility developers get from users and
non-users.  They see how the developers don't want to devote their
precious time to a project where each change is critisized to death.
They move on to other places where new users are welcomed with open
arms and friendly gestures.

So when the messenger is personally critisizing those who are trying
to do the work, yes, I blame the messenger.

> >  What they ask for is not the same as what you think we
> > should be doing.
> 
> Of course not: they've bought into the paradigm.

You are one person who desires one paradigm.  That does not invalidate
other paradigms and, like I've said many times, either design your own
or accept what others do.  Telling others - volunteers - that they're
doing it wrong only makes things worse.  You might think you're
offering constructive critisism but you aren't, you're just being
negative.

> The ones you want to attract are the ones who haven't,

The ones I want to attract are the ones who might.  If you think a
generic 3D cad program would make a good layout tool, go for it.  I
don't think it will.  Ask your layout folks if they'd rather do layout
in Autocad or their layout-specific tool.

> and from where I sit it looks like they never will unless there's a
> geda-layout whose design matches and complements geda-gaf. But you
> don't want to hear that.

I don't want to waste my time reinventing a wheel that has been
invented many times.  Development resources are scarce and we're not
doing it your way just because you're complaining the loudest.

If you want a geda-layout, write it.

> On the other hand, three cheers for Roland, who has apparently made
> an even more flexible netlister for geda-gaf!

It would be nice if you congratulated those who are making progress in
pcb with as much fanfare as those who benefit your personal causes.

> But now, I have a request to collapse a three board stack down to
> one. Good thing I used pins2gsch.awk to enforce common naming of the
> nets connected to the stacking connectors, and use a toolkit that
> makes refdes munging pretty trivial...

Yes, good thing you wrote some scripts to do something the tools
should have been able to do for you.  I'd give you a shiny star to
stick on your one-trick-pony but I'm all out.