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Subject: Re: Bug or feature ? Opinions needed

Author: Paolo Casaschi

Date: 04:01:01 12/19/04

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On December 19, 2004 at 05:23:56, Olivier Deville wrote:

>A certain engine has a time management bug when playing games at the time
>control of x moves in y minutes, and will therefore lose every game on time on
>most GUIs.
>
>However, when using a certain GUI, the engine miraculously manages to survive by
>playing several moves in less than one second.
>
>By studying the relevant logfiles and debug files, you learn that the GUI lets
>the engine use more time than allowed by the game schedule.
>
>Two ways regarding this strange problem :
>
>- You can call it a bug of the GUI. The engine should not be allowed to use more
>time than its opponent, and should lose on time.
>
>- You can call it a feature. The GUI fixes the bug and people can therefore use
>the engine, even if it is buggy.
>
>What is your opinion ?

It depends on the original specifications of the GUI.

A bug is just a behaviour that does not correspond to the specs.

However, a badly designed feature is much worse than an implementation bug.

While I share your opinion that the GUI should be totally transparent to
the engine and should not interfere in any way in the engine behavoiur,
other people apparently think differently...

--Paolo



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