Posted by d on 02/13/06 12:15

"Roman" <news12@ziak.com> wrote in message
news:r1MHf.37148$LF.6711@read2.cgocable.net...
> Alan Little wrote:
>>> They told me they do not modify Open Source software but write new
>>> one. Of course I did not hire them. I chose PunBB and I am slowly
>>>
>>> I am a programmer myself (not web) and am little disappointed. Is this
>>> a common opinion among PHP programmers, or I am just aproaching the
>>
>> It depends on your needs, and on the original software. If you need
>> extensive changes, and/or the original software is not well-written, then
>> yes, it could definitely be more effective to start from scratch.
>
> This is about code with communities around them, well tested and
> actively supported. Some of these programs seem to be well documented
> and professionally written. With minimum PHP knowledge I am able to
> follow the logic and search for particular functionality in PunBB.
>
> When 18 year old kid tells me that the code with active community of
> thousands users is no good and they would write me the better one, I
> have slight problem with believing that.

The 18-year-old might have a point, though. Never discount someone's
opinion based on something as unimportant as their age. I've seen coding in
some very popular OS packages that would make your hair stand on end. Just
beacuse there are thousands of coders working on something doesn't mean it's
any good. All those coders pulling in different directions means sometimes
software loses its focus. Plus, the coders generally tend to write software
they want to use themselves, and not actully write the software for other
people.

Open source is fantastic, but don't let the numbers fool you.

dave

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