CTXMedia
Well-known member
+1.
It's a common phenomenon how people cope with difficult situations. You can be in denial and focus on the positive aspects of life (who cares about the lawsuit - XF is a great piece of software), or you can be realistic, if not pessimistic (XF is a great piece of software, but what will happen to my community should XF lose this lawsuit). If you belong to the first group, fine, you don't care about any of this and you wish the discussion to end. If you belong to the second group, you wish for a sense of continuity, a positive feeling that XF will also exist tomorrow. Naturally, XF couldn't comment about the ongoing suit, but until recently, it had been made up by Kier's and Mike's constant presence here, assuring us that, despite everything, things are on track. The result: confidence and trust could fosters despite everything.
It'd be nice by those who don't care about the lawsuit or its possible aftermath to accept that there others who do care and do worry. Trust is not something that comes automatically, but is something that is built through time. When we do trust, we are willing to be vulnerable. In particular with the hanging lawsuit. Don't undermine this trust.
I could understand this if there had been no releases for six months or more; support had stopped; and no one from XF was commenting. Sure, that would be something to worry about.
However, the latest release was just eight weeks ago and more recently Mike has told us that development is ongoing - so I really don't understand what there is to worry about. Even for the pessimists ...
Yes, Kier was very active here up until recently and people may take his lack of posting/logins to mean something is up; but it could simply mean that - having belted out some cracking software and worked tirelessly for 18 months - he simply wants a break to spend time with his family and to begin the really hard work of producing 1.2 (which, based on previous releases, is likely to be the XF version that people will have the highest expectations of - and I doubt he'll want to disappoint!!)
We've also got support going full-time now for the existing license holders and the many new converts who are just coming over to XF and need their hand holding whilst they get into the swing of it - that's a hell of a lot for a two-man team to deal with (presumably Ashley doesn't program/support - apologies Ashley if you do?).
I'm an optimist - I'll readily admit that I focus on the positives - but I genuinely do not see anything at all wrong with the way XF is being run, or with the lack of announcements, or worry that the company is about to fold. And I'm genuinely surprised that people can jump to such conclusions. I mean, come on, threads on other sites with titles like "Are we dead?" - really? Seriously?
I simply understand the pressure the team will have been working under these last months; appreciate that the lawsuits will impact development (and the mental state of the team and their families); and that 1.2 is going to be a lot of work and will require specific focus that will not be helped by the developers chatting here on the community site.
What has given anyone a genuine reason to lose faith/trust in XF? What have they done to set such alarm bells ringing?
I just don't see it. I really don't.
Cheers,
Shaun