Re: Patches to java.util.zip by Christian Schlichtherle

[Dalibor Topic]

Mark Wielaard wrote:
> But even then for a core class library implementation being
> conservative about extensions is a good thing. If you aren't careful you
> have to support a new way to use the library for years and then you will
> have to make really sure that it is worth it both for your users and to
> the developers that need to maintain backwards compatibility with it.

I fully agree.

I think the J2SE development over the last 10 years offers a strong 
argument in favour of conservativism.

In 1996, the Java 1.0 Nutshell book came at whopping 460 pages, 
describing the language, and the APIs. In 1995, the Java in Nutshell 
book is now 1252 pages. And the language has not changed that much, to 
warrant such a blowup: it largely due to the JCP putting every API 
within their reach that could not run away fast enough into the J2SE.

As a result, countless trees have been decimated for documenting all the 
backward compatibility cruft. ;)

cheers,
dalibor topic