Re: module duplication in Drupal contrib

One thing that comes to mind is use cases. Some modules will
solve  
different problems in different ways because they have
different use  
cases. They can be due to different requirements, different
audiences,  
different work flows, and different needs.

It's not just a matter of functionality but use cases. Take
the  
simplefeed and feedapi modules. They do a lot of the same
things. But,  
they have different needs that got them to different places.
I would  
never suggest merging them into one module. Though, I might
suggest  
descriptions on the module pages that talk about where to
use them and  
other modules that accomplish similar things in different
ways.

Just a thought...

Matt

  Nancy Wichmann <nan_wichbellsouth.net>:

>> "Modules that duplicate functionality
available from an existing module
> are damaging to the Drupal project."
>
>> Please support or refute that statement...
>
> Support: Crell has a point about making the wheel
better. If combining
> modules can accomplish this it should definitely be
considered.
>
> Refute: Almost all blanket statements such as this are
wrong at some point.
> Because "function xyz" is available from both
the "abc" and "def" modules
> doesn't necessarily mean they should be combined. 
There are undoubtedly
> other functions in those modules and it may be that an
adopter of one of
> them simply does not need (or want) the additional
functions in the other.
> It is also quite possible that the display format from
"abc" is more to
> his/her preference than that of "def."
>
> I've also seen users complain that "def"
required "ghi" and they only want
> to install, and maintain, one module.  In a sense, such
an inter-module
> dependency has thus "damaged" Drupal for that
user.
>
> I personally have been told (not asked or recommended)
to merge one of the
> modules I maintain with another. However the two
modules really have
> different audiences even though the descriptions are
similar. Further, the
> design of the two was so different that it would really
have caused a
> complete rewrite of one or both of them, likely with a
loss of function.
> Perhaps a statement comparing and contrasting the
solutions offered would
> have been a more appropriate demand.
>
> Nancy E. Wichmann, PMP
>
>
>