@setfilename tasks.info
@settitle GNU Task List
@c UPDATE THIS DATE WHENEVER YOU MAKE CHANGES!
-@set lastupdate 1 February 1997
+@set lastupdate 19 March 1997
@c %**end of header
@setchapternewpage off
applications useful for non-programmer users. Therefore, we ask you to
consider writing such a program.
-In general, a new program that does a completely new job advances the
-GNU project more than an improvement to an existing program.
+Typically, a new program that does a completely new job advances
+the GNU project, and the free software community, more than an
+improvement to an existing program.
+
+Typically, new features or new programs advance the free software
+community more, in the long run, than porting existing programs. One
+reason is that portable new features and programs benefit people on many
+platforms, not just one. At the same time, there tend to be many
+volunteers for porting---so your help will be more valuable in other
+areas, where volunteers are more scarce.
+
+Typically, it is more useful to extend a program in functionality than
+to improve performance. Users who use the new functionality will
+appreciate it very much, if they use it; but even when they benefit from
+a performance improvement, they may not consider it very important.
@node Documentation
@chapter Documentation