Re: How do you figure version numbers?

["Mark L. Levinson" <nosnivel -at- netvision -dot- net -dot- il>]

A couple of things about version numbers:

- As I think someone remarked on this list a few moons ago,
  the more info you try to pack into the version number, the
  more likely you will wind up with errors or with 
  hard-to-manage exceptions.  Only two or three people
  in the company will understand what all the characters
  in the number mean anyway, and anyone else will need to
  consult some additional source of information.  So instead
  of trying to cram the date, software version, product code, 
  and author's shirt size into the manual's version number,
  why not just keep the number simple and maintain a table
  that has all necessary information mapped to the simple
  version number?

- I've seldom found a company with the administrative ability
  to distribute a revised manual without revised software.
  I've found many companies that should have the ability, 
  because the manual accompanying the software release is
  written in a mad, uncontrollable rush.  But if several
  weeks later an improved and corrected manual can be offered,
  they won't offer it until it can accompany a new software
  version.  Such an attitude, counterproductively disrespectful
  both of the customer's convenience and of the writer's labor,
  is reinforced by a manual version number that is determined
  by a software version number.

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Mark L. Levinson - nosnivel -at- netvision -dot- net -dot- il - Herzlia, Israel
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             Only half of life is quantifiable.
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