[odf-discuss] Joel on Software - Why are the Microsoft Office file formats so complicated?

[Lars Noodén]

Russell Ossendryver wrote:
...
> http://www.joelonsoftware.com/items/2008/02/19.html

Joel brings up a contributing factor to the complexity that the formats 
"were created by insanely bad programmers"  And though he discounts it, 
it appears that much of the article then goes on to support the argument 
that this is a factor.  It sure is in other output from the same firm.

The conclusion is also well known, but interesting nonetheless:

	"Anyway, unless you’re literally trying to create a
	competitor to Office that can read and write all Office
	files perfectly, in which case, you’ve got thousands of
	years of work cut out for you, chances are that reading
	or writing the Office binary formats is the most labor
	intensive way to solve whatever problem it is that 	
	you’re trying to solve."

Only apparent solution?  Depreciate the tools that cause those formats. ;)

-Lars