[ros-dev] compatibility vs. correctness

[Ged]

I don't really know why everyone is discussing this. This isn't something
that's up for debate, this is the way it is and it's not going to change.
We replicate the Windows API's 100%, if this means introducing a flaw or
bug, then so be it. 
The original post from Collibri highlights why it's so important to do this.

Just so everyone knows the ReactOS stance on this:
- We must replicate the actual behaviour or the API's, not a personnal
preferred behaviour.
- MSDN should not be relied on, it isn't always correct.
- The Wine tests are designed for this exact thing, use them whenever
possible, or write your own test cases if it's not covered by them.
- The target usermode API we are aiming at is currently xp. Vista API's
(which we also implement) are an obvious exception to this.

If anyone feels compelled to improve the API's, then apply for a job at
Microsoft. This is where the API behavioural decisions are made, not in
ReactOS.

Hope that clears this up.

Ged.


-----Original Message-----
From: ros-dev-bounces at reactos.org [mailto:ros-dev-bounces at reactos.org] On
Behalf Of Jeff Smith
Sent: 08 December 2008 01:36
To: ReactOS Development List
Subject: Re: [ros-dev] compatibility vs. correctness

Ged wrote:
> Zachary Gorden wrote:
>
>   
>> Just because Windows was tolerant of this specific sloppiness doesn't
mean
>>     
> we should be.
>
> I completely disagree.
> We need to replicate the Windows API as closely as possible, warts and
all.
> This is what compatibility is all about
>
> Ged. 
>
>
> _______________________________________________
> Ros-dev mailing list
> Ros-dev at reactos.org
> http://www.reactos.org/mailman/listinfo/ros-dev
>
>   
My view is that we should implement ReactOS as 'the way Windows should 
have been' this could lead to faster or more stable environment. I also 
realize that Windows has a need for the warts in terms of compatibility. 
so What I think would make both camps happy (plus help troubleshooting 
issues in the future) is either make ReactOS correct, and release a 
'warts compatibility patch' that tries to implement the bugs for 
compatibility.

the other option would be to put the bugs for compatibility in, but have 
a program built into ReactOS that enables/disable the bugs for 
compatibility. This will do 1 major thing for the developers, it'll 
allow them to fix every bug without wondering if it has to be there for 
compatibility.

I intend to switch to ReactOS as soon as it's ready, in a perfect world 
ReactOS (atleast as I see it) would retain compatibility without the 
problems of Windows. I know this isn't a perfect world, I just hope my 
suggestion is of help.
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