[OT] Re: There's new GIT instructions on Github now

[Daniel Gibson]

Am 20.05.2011 22:41, schrieb Nick Sabalausky:
> "Andrei Alexandrescu" <SeeWebsiteForEmail at erdani.org> wrote in message 
> news:ir67mk$2jfi$1 at digitalmars.com...
>> On 5/20/11 2:33 AM, Don wrote:
>>> You've really got to be a fanboy to claim that git is supported on
>>> Windows. Sure, it "works" -- in the same way that hammering a nail with
>>> a rock "works".
>>
>> Fanboyism for Windows or git? :o)
>>
>> I'm not surprised in the least. I was just remarking to Walter the other 
>> day that Unix has become the path of least resistance for doing 
>> programming-at-large and in particular OSS kind of work, just the same as 
>> Windows is for office computing and OSX and portable derivatives for 
>> computer-based entertainment.
>>
>> The confusing part is that roughly all OSs offer (at least nominally) 
>> means for achieving most any given typical task, so comparing in terms of 
>> "has/doesn't have" is not relevant. It's the many little differences and 
>> nuances that add up to a long tail. So it's not surprising that 
>> git/Windows has many issues, just the same it's not surprising that people 
>> are having trouble playing media or using OpenOffice on Unixen.
>>
> 
> I realize you're not actually accusing him of Windows fanboyism, but that 
> trouble with media, etc on Unix brings up an interesting issue: Unix users 
> have a real, legitimate complaint regarding those problems. And when they 
> voice those complaints nobody would ever even consider dismissing that as 
> Unix fanboyism. And when those Unix users accuse various companies of 
> playing Windows favoritism: Well, they're absolutely right. It *is* 
> inexcusable Windows favoritism.
> 
> But OTOH, when a Unix program has a shoddy "port" to Windows, and Windows 
> users complain, all of a sudden there are people (not necessarily you) that 
> push back with what basically amounts to "What the hell are you whining 
> about? Either shut up and use it or switch to Linux."
> 

It's the same when it's the other way round. "You can't properly view
that docx file? Just use Windows and MS Office like everybody else"
"Stop complaining that there are no games for Linux, just boot Windows
and be thankful that there's a PC port at all (and not just
xbox360/PS3)" "If you want to use Photoshop just get a Mac or Windows" etc

> It really reminds me of the old crusades: The Linux side feels it has the 
> moral high ground (and frankly, I can't totally disagree), but then ends up 
> using that to excuse going around employing whatever normally-questionable 
> tactics they damn well feel like using.
> 

The difference is: The Unix/Linux programs are mostly open source, so
anybody can create a Windows port or improve an existing port.
Windows only programs (that are missed on Linux) tend to be closed
source so you'd have to completely reimplement them for Linux support
(and even then you'd probably have troubles with proprietary file
formats and network protocols).

So if there are really big problems with git on Windows anybody can (try
to) fix them or even reimplement git for Windows (or platform
independent with a higher focus on Windows) - the source is available
(and with it documentation for file formats and network protocols).

I do of course understand that you (or Don) personally don't have time
for that and would prefer if it'd just work.


Cheers,
- Daniel