[
Lists Home |
Date Index |
Thread Index
]
Stan Kitsis wrote:
> > In my experience API-level support is an order (or two) of
> magnitude more expensive than delivering UI apps. First of
> all, the testing costs are much higher. Second (and way more
> significant), once we realease an API, we will have to
> support it for 10 years or so - and this is extremely expensive.
> >
Rick Jelliffe replied:
> I hadn't heard that applications with User Interfaces were so
> cheap and easy to deliver.
>
I was surprised by Stan's comment as well. Testing a large API like XQJ can
be costly, it needs an awful lot of tests to do the job properly; but at
least it can easily be automated. By contrast, testing of graphical user
interfaces is notoriously hard to automate effectively.
As for the implication that it's easier to inflict change on your users with
a user interface than with an API: isn't it nice to be in a position where
you can make users take the pain rather than taking it yourself?
Michael Kay
http://www.saxonica.com/
|
