[fpc-pascal] Re: problems compiling FPC

[Mark Morgan Lloyd]

Sven Barth wrote:

>> I really don't like making this comment, but looking at the bug report
>> (and checking the current Makefile)
>>
>>  > You try to build with 2.6.1.
>>
>> That could very easily be misread as "You should try to build with
>> 2.6.1", correct idiomatic English would be "You are trying to build with
>> 2.6.1.", or to rub their nose in it "You are trying to build with 2.6.1,
>> which is not supported.".
>>
> 
> The whole purpose of the check was to "rub their nose in it"... but if 
> people try to circumvent the check by editing the Makefile (and not even 
> reading the message correctly to know how to circumvent it correctly) 
> and THEN even raising a bug report about this then what can help?!

I'm definitely not complaining about the check, I agree with it. But to 
somebody with English as their first/only language "You try" is an 
imperative, as in "I've cleared the bubbles in the fuel line, you try to 
start it now.". If we're trying to make it "bloody idiot proof" then the 
correct form is "you are trying" or "you have tried".

-- 
Mark Morgan Lloyd
markMLl .AT. telemetry.co .DOT. uk

[Opinions above are the author's, not those of his employers or colleagues]