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Re: Deprecated (was When is it too much information?)
Subject:Re: Deprecated (was When is it too much information?) From:Tony Chung <tonyc -at- tonychung -dot- ca> To:Lauren <lauren -at- writeco -dot- net> Date:Wed, 20 Feb 2013 22:43:37 -0800
But deprecated has a deeper meaning than "not used". The actual definition
that Peter gave was that deprecated refers to a feature or function that
has worked in the past, is still used, with the possibility that they may
be removed in the future.
One painful deprecation was the means for Mac OS X to run Power PC-based
apps. For at least 6 point revisions, developers were warned to
code apps as Universal binaries, yet several held out. Then out rolled
Mountain Lion and a whole series of current software now no longer works.
This may have started in Lion, but as I skipped from Snow Leopard to
Mountain Lion I was affected immediately.
Deprecation is necessary for advancement. But it doesn't mean no longer
used.
-T
On Wednesday, February 20, 2013, Lauren wrote:
> On 2/20/2013 10:03 PM, Debbie Hemstreet wrote:
>
>> In the end it depends on the end user.
>>
>> Still, I prefer simplicity... and my brain had to twist for "deprecated"
>>
>
> I like simplicity, like using the fewest words necessary to convey
> something in documentation, and then I over-explain things in conversation.
> I'm a pair o'ducks, like that.
>
> I think in documentation, "deprecated," defeats the purpose of being
> simple while some examples of alternatives use more words than I would like
> to see. Saying instead that a feature is "not used" would convey the
> correct meaning, use fewer characters, use fewer syllables, and it wouldn't
> add any meaning, like suggesting that the feature no longer works.
>
> Too funny that a discussion of a simple word has become complex and has
> required so many words.
>
> But then, programmers not only enjoy twisting, but twisting end-user
>> brains as well... so I guess it works...
>>
>
> The word deprecated is fun because because non-techies don't know what it
> means. I had a bumper sticker on my old truck that reads, "deprecated,"
> because the truck still worked but it wasn't used. Using "deprecated" in
> user documentation would create more problems than it would solve.
>
>
>
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