John, as a fellow web developer it is exceptionally rare that I would critize another's work. "We" know what the behind-the-scenes issues are like. Much like you, I myself have some very happy clients and I also have very unhappy clients. We both wish we could make everybody happy, and we both know that sometimes there are situations which are beyond control. Whilst having a client who is quite unhappy is regrettable, it unfortunately does happen, sometimes by our own "botching the job", yet sometimes by unreasonable client expectations and their own organization. Some days you're the dog, some days you're the hydrant.
Having said that, as many mistakes as a person might reasonably make by accident, the most basic tenets of development and, more importantly, what SI is "about" have been heinously violated. The violation of these tenets—revealing of usernames—editing others' posts, and even POSTing at all ("error writing to database"), along with the curious "unmarking" of bookmarks—demonstrate an absolute disregard of any Testing/QA principles.
Being on West Coast time, as you are, I followed not only this update in "real time", but also the one a few days before that in "real time", as well. You finished both of them early. I know, because I was there from "offline" to "online". "Early", in many cases is commendable, but I noticed some particular problems after the first one (the "unbookmark" situation when one clicks on the most recent message number".) It got fixed within an hour, so I figured you guys knew, and were tweaking a bit, so it wasn't worth reporting. Yet, "finishing early" should have meant, "Oh goodie, extra time for Testing/QA so we can make sure this actually works, and doesn't break (or reveal usernames, inadvertantly unbookmark subjects, etc...!"
This bit about revealing usernames is exceptionally out of bounds. In your post to which I'm responding, you gloss over it. I gave up on SI many months ago, when it was apparent your many many "non-Dryer-esque" changes weren't reflective of membership's desires. I came back only very recently, on the whimsical thought that you might have become more sensitive and appreciative of your user base. Now this... with a Dilberarian-Corporate-Gloss-Over...
One is slightly reminded of Han Solo in the Death Star Jail Control Room, during Princess Leia's rescue, with all the shooting going on. "Uh, everything is under control here. We just had a slight weapons malfunction. No need to send anybody down here..." |
