🚀 go-pugleaf

Ed Heinrich, HEINRICH@yvax.byu.EDU, writes:

[...]

>I have to agree w/ both Bruce and Hunter.  For software companies that
>have large customer bases PATCH is invaluable.

DEC has a large customer base!

>In addition, many system managers WILL apply a
>patch if they are told it fixes a potential crash-related bug, they
>may not, however, rush to do a full installation if you send them a
>patched distribution kit.  (I know of some shops that only schedule
>product upgrades during Christmas week when the plant is closed, but
>they will apply a PATCH when they receive it).

It is difficult to explain to management why you didn't apply a patch that
would prevent a crash because you feared the patch could cause a crash!

DEC has sent me a good 3-4 patches for LATmaster and LATSYM on VMS V5.4-x
and V5.5.  These were patches to existing code, not new images.  The
problems were severe enough to warrent installing the fixes immediately.

>The question of use vs. abuse of PATCH needs to be managed.  Companies
>need to insure that PATCHES are reflected in source code changes as
>soon as the patches are cut to avoid issuing subsequent releases with the
>same bugs.

That has happened here.

-Dan Wing, DWING@UH01.Colorado.EDU or WING_D@UCOLMCC.BITNET (DGW11)
 Systems Programmer, University Hospital, Denver