Subj : Re: How much should I charge for fixed-price software contract?
To   : comp.programming
From : Randy Howard
Date : Fri Aug 19 2005 12:41 pm

Richard Heathfield wrote
(in article 
<de452m$gnd$1@nwrdmz03.dmz.ncs.ea.ibs-infra.bt.com>):

> Randy Howard wrote:
> 
>> I am always amazed at how completely you abhor PDF files, but I
>> can't recall exactly why.
> 
> For one thing, I don't like the idea of promulgating an Adobe format, 
> given Adobe's shameful treatment of Dmitri Sklyarov a few years ago. 

I'm certain that someone working on the Linux kernel was mean to 
their mother somewhere along the way too, but I won't boycott 
Linux over it.  Not that the DS situation was equivalent in 
severity.

> Also, of course, they're a nuisance to read (for example, ghostview quite 
> often complains about PDFs being corrupt). 

then using something else, or patch out the popup.  :-)

> As for editing them, forget it.

Aha.. now you've hit on something, but I have the opposite view. 
 I like to use PDF's specifically for when I don't want a file 
to be edited.  for example, during arguing back and forth over 
an RFQ or design document, contracts, etc., fine, use something 
easily mutable.  But, when it comes time for a real signed copy 
of the file you have agreed to, a PDF file makes it a little 
less likely that they'll modify it and hand you back something 
not exactly what you expected.

For forms, or other documents where you don't want some personal 
style settings, fonts, margins or whatever to hose the form 
layout, PDF also comes in handy.

Of course, you are opposed to it for emotional reasons also, so 
I suspect this is pointless.  The world will continue to spin on 
its axis regardless of the outcome.  

> On the other hand, text files are non-proprietary, easy to read, easy to 
> import into your own programs, easy to edit, and easy to create.

Quite true.  It's also more difficult to make them convey as 
much visual information unless you intend to post process them 
into something graphical before viewing.

> PDF or a text format? No contest, as far as I'm concerned.
 
I see no problem with both, at different times for different 
purposes. 



-- 
Randy Howard (2reply remove FOOBAR)

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