[ColorForth] reinventing the internet?

["Kurt B. Kaiser" <kbk@xxxxxxxxx>]

On 2 Dec Terry Loveall posted a link to kerneltrap.org which leads to a great
discussion of planning vs. evolution in large sw systems, esp. Linux.   

I bookmarked it _and_ saved a copy!

If you read down a ways there's an interesting comment:

"Take TCP for example. The TCP protocol is specified in a series of
documents. If you make a formally correct implementation of the base TCP RFC
you won't even make connections. Much of the flow control behaviour, the
queueing and the detail is learned only by being directly part of the TCP
implementing community. You can read  all the scientific papers you like, it
will not make you a good TCP implementor." --Alan Cox

I take that to suggest that you not only need to read the specs, you need to
read/understand existing code _which has been exposed to the fire of extensive
testing_. And have access to people who can help with the subtle bugs.
-- 
   K u r t    B.   K a i s e r
   k b k @@ s h o r e .. n e t
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