>Mike,
>
>I tend to agree with you regarding the complexity of the issue.
>
>The thing about software is that there's no timer that rings nor anything else that indicates that "it's done". The only thing is the absence of bug reports.
>
>I personally believe that when the product was RTMed, everyone involved was pretty convinced that all of the known issues had been addressed. In fact, I think that the first indication that it was about to go gold was Mike Stewart's leaving for his trip (which if I recall correctly was in mid-June with the product being RTMed on 6/26 or thereabouts).
>
>As a result, I think the scenario went something like...
>
>In the first or second week of June it appeared like the product was "gold" (meaning, of course, ready to RTM). Everyone involved feels pretty good, no new issues are coming in. So, on or about the date mentioned above, it actually does RTM.
>
>Between then and now, a bug (perhaps more than one) appears. Now it's too late to do anything but put out the "hotfix". Simple as that.

We should keep in mind that MS has a formal process. I gather it's unlike what most of us might be used to...the idea that you have until the last FEDEX truck leaves to code :-|.

I think it's partially an assessment of what impact will fixing a bug? Fixing a bug is coding, coding introduces a possibility of error, and errors have to be retested. They have to, at some point, freeze the product for changes. It doens't mean testing stops or bug reporting stops. But as long as new code is being introduced the cycle can't ever stop. Let's assume that the code base was frozen sometime in mid-June so that it could be tested for any really glaring "babies will die" sorts of bugs. I don't know, but I suspect that doesn't mean everybody stopped working (though I personally hope they all got in some vacation time). Hence the updates.

Personally, I'd like to hear more about what the testing and release process is like. I've talked to the test manager a little bit, and the other people on the team. After talking to them I felt a lot better about their process and much more confident that they really are doing things in a rational and careful manner. Well, as much as anybody does, I guess. :)