🚀 go-pugleaf

You were upset because c++-mode indent did funny things to comments...

    Of course, we have the sources to gnu emacs, so it is a simple
    matter to find the problem and fix it. Right? Right! ...

I understand you are in a hurry.  But I hadn't heard this before:

    ... the problem with Unix software is that so much of it is free.
    To get really good software, you have to PAY for it. gnu emacs is
    a case in point. It is just good enough to discourage competition
    from entering the market.

This is an interesting economic point, but I don't think you've proved
that competition has been discouraged from entering the market.  It
might be more accurate to say that little exists that people are
willing to view as an adequate substitute good.  Though you are upset
that your `indent' is not perfect, you have made several economic
decisions already.  You used it since it was available and you had no
better substitute.  The price may have been appealing.  You did not to
improve `indent'--perhaps you assign a higher price to your time.  And
you did not offer the market a price you'd be willing to pay for a
quick improvement to `indent'.  (Note this could be a service
function, and the software could still be free for others to enjoy.)

I believe that GNU software is well crafted and low-cost, and has
lowered barriers to entry for most people.  As such, it has stimulated
software growth and lowered costs in a world where technology has made
many things (such as health care) expensive and inaccessible enough.

Geoffrey S. Knauth                            E-Mail:    geoff@bos.camex.com
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