Quote:
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Originally Posted by AssKoala
Library minor version updates can contain bug fixes, security fixes, and a host of other changes. If you ignore that, then you can end up having things seemingly work but they can end up unstable or insecure -- it puts a heavier burden on the administrator of the computer.
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Say you build software using libstdc++ 3.0 but the user his computer has 3.4.6
This means his version probably has bug and security fixes but it's not for me as developer to force the user to use 3.0 nor 3.4.6.
This deal is handled properly by microsoft: MAJOR.x.x has new functions and x.x only has fixes. Windows 2000 and XP use 5.x versions of the core library and 98/ME/NT uses 4.x
So as software developer you should be able to detect the library version and either use the new functionality or workaround it instead of dying a horrible death saying the user his libs are outdated.
M$ knows this because they stand with the fact that 90% of the world population can't work with computers so let alone administrating/updating it.
Shure both OS now have an update agent to do it for you, but they are always behind your incredible ideas and libraries which are newer then their system can ever provide that fast.
So yes teknomage his summary is good but to short for ever being usefull since it's a matter between design and usebaility.