[thfuran]

The alternative to using private methods or reflectively mucking about with library/platform internals isn't always "do the same thing but with only public API"; it's sometimes "you can't possibly fix the bug or implement the feature that you want to". It sure does increase maintenance burden though.

[bigstrat2003]

> it's sometimes "you can't possibly fix the bug or implement the feature that you want to"

Yes. It is, and that is what any responsible person should choose.

[thfuran]

So you'd tell customers "No, I'm not fixing that bug because doing so would offend my aesthetic sensibilities. Yes, I know you have a support contract, but I simply refuse to address your problem even though I could"? Or maybe you'd phrase it a little differently in public.

[frumplestlatz]

Yes, I have told customers exactly that when there was no supported way to achieve what they wanted. I'm not putting my name on that.

[rogerrogerr]

“Poor decisions on your part do not constitute an emergency on mine.”

[willis936]

"Poor decisions on a third party's part do constitute an emergency on mine."