The following is an unedited email thread I have had with a reader over the past week or so. I helped him learn how to add a SWC to a Flex project but apparently that (and FlexMDI) wasn’t good enough. The quotes next to the green bars are mine.

Update: I have decided to remove Keith’s identifying information from this post. While I haven’t received any kind of apology from him, as one commenter pointed out some employers could deem his behavior enough to warrant termination from a job or perhaps prevent the acquisition of a future job. Nothing of that magnitude was what I intended by publishing this. I was simply trying to point out two things. One, don’t be ungrateful, especially when getting something at no cost. Two, just because you’re communicating “on the internet” doesn’t mean its OK to be a jerk, and your actions may very well become public knowledge. I think this post still accomplishes its goals without his info. So you’re welcome Keith, again.

Hey Ben,

Thanks again for all the help in getting the demos to work. As I mentioned in my last post the only problem I am having now is trying to get the maximize and minimize events to work. When I add one of them to a I get “Event type ‘mdi.events:MDIWindowEvent’ is unavailable”

Any ideas??

Thanks,

Keith

Not sure what you mean exactly, can you show some code?

sure
… code snippet …

When I compile that I get “Event type ‘mdi.events:MDIWindowEvent’ is
unavailable” on the MDIWindow code. If I remove
the “maximize” event parameter it compiles and runs fine.

Sorry, I dunno. Maybe try importing MDIWindowEvent?

Ben

Sadly it already is. I just took the sample code and added the maximize parameter.

So its just the explorer with one attribute added?

Any idea ?

Sorry, I don’t really have time to investigate right now. I would suggest posting your issue on flexcoders.

Ben

Lol. Ok. I didn’t realize they would comment on 3rd party code. I apologize — I thought you were one of the developers of this component.

No problem, I am, I just have a lot going on right now. Sorry.

You knoiw what never mind. Pisses me off to no end when a developer won’t take the time to troubleshoot his own code. I’d fire you if you worked for me. Guess now that its published and the articles have been written and your presentations made you don’t give a flip.
There is a another component someone else wrote. I’ll just check it out instead.
Maybe I will post to flexcoders and explain that the person who helped write it wouldn’t take the time to help out. Yeah that should look good.
Thanks for ummm.. Well nothing I guess. Enjoy

Wow, you’re amazing you know it? I have a family, a full-time job and other shit going on, I’ve spent countless hours writing the code, written articles, answered several questions on my blog (including yours) and on flexcoders, and because I don’t have time to investigate your question right now that makes me a bad person/developer? You’ve been given a very good library for zero cost and you throw a temper tantrum because I can’t personally investigate your issue? Why can’t you post to flexcoders? Shit man, put forth some effort! The code has been downloaded over 6000 times and nobody has ever reported this issue. Doesn’t mean its not a valid problem, but asking you to do a little bit more than flood my inbox whining that it doesn’t work is a reasonable request. Please do post your complaint to flexcoders. Please.

Jeez man, you couldn’t be more unappreciative. What exactly makes you feel entitled to free code plus support? Tell you what, send me $100 and I will be glad to investigate your issue personally. After all, I am sure you’re getting paid for the project you’re using our code in, so lets be fair and share the wealth. Right?

Unbelievable.

Ben