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* support-expectations: Overhaul page.
author Kai T. Ohlhus <k.ohlhus@gmail.com>
date Wed, 08 Jul 2020 14:43:04 +0900
parents aaf612aece2b
children e6ca711a6649
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191:5de7c361bcaa 192:c8dba4c0fd04
2 layout: page 2 layout: page
3 title: Support Expectations 3 title: Support Expectations
4 menu: false 4 menu: false
5 --- 5 ---
6 6
7 Octave is a capable free software system for numerical computing 7 Octave is a capable free software system for numerical computing developed
8 developed primarily by a community of volunteers. As good as it 8 primarily by a community of **volunteers**.
9 is, there are certainly some flaws and a lot of room for 9 As good as Octave is,
10 improvement. Most people who use Octave understand these things 10 there are certainly some flaws and a lot of room for improvement.
11 and know that if they work together with the community bugs will 11 Most people who use Octave understand these things
12 be fixed, features will be added, and Octave will improve over 12 and know that if they work together with the community bugs will be fixed,
13 time. Working with people who have this kind of attitude is fun 13 features will be added,
14 and rewarding. 14 and Octave will improve over time.
15 Working with people who have this kind of attitude is fun and rewarding.
15 16
16 Unfortunately, there are a few people who behave as though the 17 Unfortunately,
17 community owes them support as well as a 100% Matlab compatible 18 there are a few people who behave as though the community owes them support as
18 system, all at zero cost. It shouldn't really be necessary, but 19 well as a 100% Matlab compatible system,
19 we'll say it anyway: working with these people is no fun. If you 20 all at zero cost.
20 approach the Octave community this way, you are sure to be 21 **Working with these people is no fun.**
21 disappointed. You should also not be surprised when your requests 22 If you approach the Octave community this way,
22 for help are ignored. 23 you are sure to be disappointed.
24 You should also not be surprised when your requests for help are ignored.
23 25
24 26
25 # Development Group 27 # Development Group
26 28
27 People sometimes think that Octave is developed by some large team 29 People sometimes think that Octave is developed by some large team of well-paid
28 of well-paid programmers. Nothing could be further from the truth. 30 programmers.
29 Most of the initial development of Octave was done by one person 31 Nothing could be further from the truth.
30 over several years. Since then, there have been at most a half-dozen 32 Most of the initial development of Octave was done by one person over several
31 or so volunteers working on Octave at any one time. 33 years.
34 Since then,
35 there have been at most a half-dozen or so volunteers working on Octave
36 at any one time.
32 You can see who has done most of the work by looking through the 37 You can see who has done most of the work by looking through the
33 [development history][1] (prior to February 2008 it is best to look 38 [development history](https://hg.savannah.gnu.org/hgweb/octave)
34 in the old `ChangeLog` files). Currently, none of the Octave developers 39 (prior to February 2008 it is best to look in the old `ChangeLog` files).
35 are paid to work on Octave directly. 40 Currently,
41 none of the Octave developers are paid to work on Octave directly.
36 42
37 If you would like to see Octave moving forward more quickly, then 43 If you would like to see Octave moving forward more quickly,
38 contribute to its development, either by working on the project 44 then contribute to its development,
39 yourself, or by donating funds. With sufficient funding, we would 45 either by working on the project yourself,
40 be able to pay a few developers to work on Octave full time. 46 or by [donating funds]({{ "donation.html | relative_url }}).
41 47 With sufficient funding,
42 [1]: https://hg.savannah.gnu.org/hgweb/octave 48 the Octave project would be able to pay a few developers to work on it full
49 time.
43 50
44 51
45 # Help 52 # Help
46 53
47 When asking for help on the mailing list or IRC channel, 54 When asking for help on Discourse or IRC channel,
48 or reporting a bug, remember that the people helping you 55 or reporting a bug,
49 are Octave users just like you who are volunteering their time. 56 remember that the people helping you are Octave users just like you
50 They are not paid support staff. Use meaningful subject lines. 57 who are volunteering their time.
51 Try to ask clear questions. Be precise about the problems you are having. 58 They are not paid support staff.
59 Use meaningful subject lines.
60 Try to ask clear questions.
61 Be precise about the problems you are having.
52 62
53 63
54 # Bugs 64 # Bugs
55 65
56 No software is perfect, and Octave is no exception. 66 No software is perfect,
67 and Octave is no exception.
57 You can search the list of bug reports to see what problems have been reported. 68 You can search the list of bug reports to see what problems have been reported.
58 In looking at the list, you might also noticed the number of problems that 69 In looking at the list,
59 have been *fixed*. 70 you might also noticed the number of problems that have been *fixed*.
60 Nearly all of these problems have been fixed by volunteers. 71 Nearly all of these problems have been fixed by volunteers.
61 If you find a problem, you are encouraged to [report it][2]. 72 If you find a problem,
62 Your report can help to improve Octave, but you should not think of the bug 73 you are encouraged to [report it]({{ "bugs.html" | relative_url }}).
63 tracker as your personal support line. 74 Your report can help to improve Octave,
75 but you should not think of the bug tracker as your personal support line.
64 76
65 If you depend on Octave and absolutely must have prompt responses 77 If you depend on Octave and absolutely must have prompt responses to problem
66 to problem reports, you should consider paying 78 reports,
67 for [commercial support][3]. 79 you should consider paying for
68 80 [commercial support]({{ "commercial-support.html" | relative_url }}).
69 [2]: {{ "bugs.html" | relative_url }}
70 [3]: {{ "commercial-support.html" | relative_url }}
71 81
72 82
73 # Features 83 # Features
74 84
75 When we say that Octave is "mostly compatible" with Matlab, 85 When we say that Octave is "mostly compatible" with Matlab,
76 we mean that the language that it accepts is similar enough that a 86 we mean that the language that it accepts is similar enough that a substantial
77 substantial amount of code written for Matlab can also run in 87 amount of code written for Matlab can also run in Octave without needing to be
78 Octave without needing to be changed. But Octave does not have 88 changed.
79 all the features of Matlab, and it is unlikely that it ever will. 89 But Octave does not have all the features of Matlab,
80 Given that Matlab is developed in secret and Octave developers 90 and it is unlikely that it ever will.
81 only find out about new Matlab features when new versions of 91 Given that Matlab is developed in secret and Octave developers only find out
82 Matlab are released, it is clearly impossible for Octave to have 92 about new Matlab features when new versions of Matlab are released,
83 new Matlab features as soon as they are available in Matlab. 93 it is clearly impossible for Octave to have new Matlab features as soon as they
94 are available in Matlab.
84 95
85 96 In most cases,
86 In most cases, Octave has the features that it does because 97 Octave has the features that it does because someone decided to add them
87 someone decided to add them because they needed them. If you have 98 because they needed them.
88 the programming skills perhaps you can add the features you need. 99 If you have the programming skills perhaps you can add the features you need.
89 If you not, then consider paying for someone to implement the 100 If you not,
90 feature for you. Most people who provide [commercial support][3] 101 then consider paying for someone to implement the feature for you.
102 Most people who provide
103 [commercial support]({{ "commercial-support.html" | relative_url }})
91 services for Octave will also take on custom programming projects. 104 services for Octave will also take on custom programming projects.
92 105
93 Even if you don't have the expertise required to implement new 106 Even if you don't have the expertise required to implement new features or
94 features or can't pay for someone to do the work for you, you may 107 can't pay for someone to do the work for you,
95 submit feature requests to the bug tracker. But you should 108 you may submit feature requests to the bug tracker.
96 understand that unless you are paying for someone to to add the 109 But you should understand that unless you are paying for someone to to add the
97 feature, no one is obligated to do it for you. 110 feature,
111 no one is obligated to do it for you.