[mythtv-users] Why isn't LiveTV as smart as a regular recording?

[Michael T. Dean]

On 11/12/2008 08:14 PM, Brad DerManouelian wrote:
> On Nov 12, 2008, at 4:50 PM, Phil Bridges wrote:
>   
>> Huh.  Interesting.  Please tell me what is it *I* want out of LiveTV?
>>     

I have no clue.  But, I can say that the current implementation of 
LiveTV in MythTV fulfills 100% of /my/ LiveTV needs.

>> Nearly every time someone so as mentions Live TV, you seem to reply
>> with "you are using it wrong"

In truth, I couldn't care less if others want to watch LiveTV.

>>  and "fix it yourself".  What is the
>> purpose of that?
> Maybe he's trying to inspire someone who wants better LiveTV to code  
> it and share it with the rest of us. It hasn't worked so far, but he  
> keeps trying.

Exactly.  That and trying to make it 100% clear that I will /not/ be 
fixing it for "you" so that maybe someone will stop waiting for someone 
else to do it (where you = "anyone who wants some 
functionality/change/fix to the current LiveTV").

While I don't care whether others want to watch LiveTV, I /do/ care when 
they complain that the MythTV developers need to do <whatever> work on 
MythTV.  I don't understand why people would feel entitled to a better 
LiveTV experience or any other changes to MythTV.  After all, why should 
it be the responsibility of /any/ developer to write code to please any 
user?  That's the whole point of FOSS--the source is available to anyone 
so they may add features they want.  I write code to add features I want 
or to add features that make my life easier (i.e. that reduce the number 
of times I have to answer some question that I've answered way too many 
times).  And, if you don't code, feel free to hire a professional 
developer to add the features (though I have a feeling when you get a 
quote, you'll likely decide it's better to teach yourself C++/Qt/MythTV 
programming).

If it were Microsoft refusing to add features users request, I could 
understand--after all, people who bought the Microsoft code may feel 
they didn't get their money's worth.  However, this is MythTV.  If 
anyone feels he didn't get his money's worth out of Myth, I will happily 
refund 100% of the MythTV license cost to anyone who requests their $0.00.

Sure, I do write a lot of code for Myth that I don't use myself.  I'm 
currently working on a patch for something that I don't need, but only 
because the one thing I hate worse than a user who feels entitled to a 
certain change is an improper "fix" (and I want to encourage the right 
fix--which is far more work than the "easy fix").  I.e. if we're going 
to make a change, I want it done right because I want MythTV to be the 
best DVR possible.  Unfortunately for the LiveTV users, I dont' see any 
similar situation with any of the LiveTV stuff.

Mike "I am not a MythTV developer" Dean (so my opinion doesn't count)