[Elecraft] Contributing (wasRe: FT8 Upgrade)

[Steve Witt]

On Thu, Nov 29, 2018 at 01:45:37AM -0800, Jim Brown wrote:
> On 11/29/2018 1:09 AM, Richard Lamont wrote:
> > The -rc* versions are release candidates, i.e. beta packages for
> > testing. People who use them are expected to report any anomalies they
> > find on the relevant mailing list.
> > 
> > If you don't want to test and report bugs, you should not be using (and
> > there is no point in you using) the -rc* packages.
> 
> Contributing to the development of FREE software that we use is a bad thing?
> WSJT-X is a voluntary effort by a group of hams who are proficient at
> programming. Simply by using the new software we make QSOs with other hams
> who are also using it, we are contributing.

Of course helping test Open Source software is a good thing, but there
is a certain technical sophistication that is needed by users to make
trouble reports that are meaningful to the developers. It also
requires closely following the WSJT-X group to be aware of what is
going on in the development process. I would guess that most WJST-X
users are interested in using the software to make QSOs. Some of you
are probably aware that the FT8 data frame is being modified from the
current 75 bit frame to a 77 bit frame in the 2.0.0-rc release
candidates causing versions >= rc-4 to be inoperable with 1.9.1. This
is causing no end of confusion for people using the release candidate
versions but who are not really up on what is going on with the new
development. So, IMHO, those who are interested enough in the
development process are helping with testing the release candidate
versions and those who are not should just enjoy 1.9.1 until the 2.0.0
version is released. There are a lot of people testing the rc's so it
isn't really a problem.

73,
Steve  K6ZX