cygstart version 1.4 bug in "cygstart --reference"

cygstart version 1.4 bug in "cygstart --reference"

[SJ Kissane]

Hi

In cygstart 1.4, "cygstart --reference" opens a web browser to
http://msdn.microsoft.com/library/en-us/shellcc/platform/Shell/reference/functions/shellexecute.asp

which microsoft redirects to:

http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/ms123402.aspx

which now 404s.

Now, from one perspective is Microsoft's fault for breaking their URLs.
But should we rely on Microsoft not to break their website?
Maybe that's expecting a bit too much from life :)

And this bug could be fixed, by changing the URL in the code to one
that now works,
http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/bb762153(VS.85).aspx

But really, shouldn't this feature just be removed?
What is the justification for hardcoding Microsoft URLs in source code,
given that it creates a bug every time Microsoft reorganizes their website.

Cheers
Simon

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Re: cygstart version 1.4 bug in "cygstart --reference"

[Charles Wilson]

On 6/11/2008 8:14 PM, SJ Kissane wrote:
> In cygstart 1.4, "cygstart --reference" opens a web browser to
> http://msdn.microsoft.com/library/en-us/shellcc/platform/Shell/reference/functions/shellexecute.asp
> 
> which microsoft redirects to:
> 
> http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/ms123402.aspx
> 
> which now 404s.
> 
> Now, from one perspective is Microsoft's fault for breaking their URLs.
> But should we rely on Microsoft not to break their website?
> Maybe that's expecting a bit too much from life :)
> 
> And this bug could be fixed, by changing the URL in the code to one
> that now works,
> http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/bb762153(VS.85).aspx
> 
> But really, shouldn't this feature just be removed?
> What is the justification for hardcoding Microsoft URLs in source code,
> given that it creates a bug every time Microsoft reorganizes their website.

It's a sort of "self-test", since it is implemented by calling the
internal cygStart() function.  I've changed the URL, but left the
--reference option in place.

--
Chuck

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