I'd agree with Kit in broad terms, but invert that order.
It can be pretty obvious to StataCorp and many others that
(1) is true of a package, and apparent that (2) is true,
but (3), expanded realistically, is the crunch.
Any idea that (1) and (2) qualify a user-written program
for adoption by StataCorp misses out what's involved:
(a) scrutiny of code
(b) scrutiny of help file
(c) writing dialog if not done
(d) writing and running test scripts
(e) writing manual entry
(f) tech support
I did not intend to suggest in any way that (1) and (2) taken together
are by any means sufficient; for an economist, (3) on my list---the
provision of tech support (including maintenance, enhancements,
documentation rewrites, etc.) is a MUCH bigger commitment, since its
cost is the discounted present value of doing that work (and
competently answering the user questions about the routine) from time =
t to +\infty. Even at a high discount rate, that is a large number,
and if it is not an affordable sum, Bill G. the economist will not be
willing to shell it out.
To say nothing of the costs of Nick's item #4 above: anything added to
Stata has to "play nicely" with everything that is already there, and
that requires (using Stata's published standards; see Bill G.'s SJ
article on software certification) a LOT of testing (and retesting,
every time a single new feature or bug fix is made! On every platform
supporting Stata!) Yes, if I was on the StataCorp payroll, I would not
be real keen on adoption, as much as I would want the package to do
everything for everybody.
StataCorp have, IMHO, taken an alternative strategy (to creating a
bloated behemoth with manuals no one can lift): they have made it
trivial for you, me, Nick, and everyone else to set up our favorite
procedures and distribute them costlessly via SSC, user sites, SJ, etc.
Do I have the same confidence that any user code (including my own) is
as bulletproof as what comes out in 'update ado'? Of course not; the
quality of the offfcial updates is what I'm paying good money for when
I buy a new version of Stata (and those who are not eager to update
ought to think about that). But just as in literature, some authors are
better craftsmen/women than others...
