[Freeciv-Dev] Re: curiosity

[Raimar Falke <hawk@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

On Fri, Nov 30, 2001 at 11:35:33AM -0500, Andrew Sutton wrote:
> in my opinion freeciv1.x has reached a point of maturity where the only thing 
> left seems to be features, bugfixes and some minor extensions.
> 
> is there any interest in starting a 2.0 development branch?
> 
> i think there's alot to be learned from the successes and shortcomings of the 
> current implementation, that would do well to influence the development of a 
> new system - specifically, a much more flexible core. actually, i'd kind of 
> like to rebuild the server as a micorkernel, allowing the development of 
> modules to implement specific gaming elements. rulesets would choose gaming 
> elements to use and mix and match various properties, defining the tech tree, 
> unit capabilities, etc, and various algorithms to use.
> 
> i'd also like to improve and generalize the network protocol to make it 
> something more like a traditional API instead of a series of sends and gets.

\begin{quote}

An architect's first work is apt to be spare and clean.  He knows he
doesn't know what he's doing, so he does it carefully and with great
restraint.

As he designs the first work, frill after frill and embellishment
after embellishment occur to him.  These get stored away to be used
"next time".  Sooner or later the first system is finished, and the
architect, with firm confidence and a demonstrated mastery of that
class of systems, is ready to build a second system.

This second is the most dangerous system a man ever designs.  When he
does his third and later ones, his prior experiences will confirm each
other as to the general characteristics of such systems, and their
differences will identify those parts of his experience that are
particular and not generalizable.

The general tendency is to over-design the second system, using all
the ideas and frills that were cautiously sidetracked on the first
one.  The result, as Ovid says, is a "big pile".

-- Frederick P. Brooks, Jr. from "The Mythical Man-Month"

\end{quote}

Or in other words make a very strict and detailed list of what you
want to achieve.

        Raimar

-- 
 email: rf13@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
  "With a PC, I always felt limited by the software available.
   On Unix, I am limited by my knowledge."
    -- Peter J. Schoenster <pschon@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>