Subj : alternative DateTime (ref: fts-0001.016)

Subj : alternative DateTime (ref: fts-0001.016)
To : Maurice Kinal
From : Rob Swindell
Date : Sat Dec 19 2020 06:39 pm

Re: alternative DateTime (ref: fts-0001.016)
By: Maurice Kinal to Rob Swindell on Sun Dec 20 2020 01:49 am

> Hey Rob!
>
> RS> I guess you don't know what "backwards compatible" means.
>
> I guess the same about you.
>
> RS> Backwards compatible means it would continue to work with
> RS> existing systems.
>
> I swear that is known simply as compatibilty. Backwards implies the past.
> However in both cases it is obvious the software we're using is {,backwards}
> compatible given our exchanges.

Backwards compatible means enhancing/fixing functionality *without* impacting interoparability with old systems that lack the enhancement or fix.

> RS> I suspect most other echomail programs would do the same.
>
> Mine as well. However mine can quicky adapt to a much needed change in
> order to facillitate progress especially when it concerns an obviously
> needed fix. Your proposal doesn't allow for a proper fix and solves nothing.
> Mine does and is therefore superior as well as much needed.

I haven't really proposed anything, but if I were, it would be a new control paragraph (kludge line) in the variable length portion of the packed-message. This would have no impact on older/existing systems and yet would allow newer systems to utilize the more precise date/time information if they wished.

Control paragraphs are how new features have been introduced into FidoNet for decades without breaking backward compatibility. This is the way.

> RS> Is this how you normally engage in technical discussions?
>
> I thought it was obvious that I don't normally engage in technical
> discussions. Regarding this one I believe I am 100% correct and you are 100%
> wrong.

Huh. So you agree that existing FTN systems would break if the rest of the network were to switch to a new date format in packets, yet you don't consider that breaking backwards compatibility. And I'm the one that's wrong? I can't
tell if you're joking, but I hope so. :-)