[REBOL] Re: Cross-platform (was NTFS Stream Fun)
From: atruter:hih:au at: 8-Aug-2002 14:58
Hi Joel,
> The thing that
> keeps our scripts transparent/free/portable/virtuous is our own
> willingness/discipline to avoid using ANYTHING that locks us into
> a proprietary environment.
While I agree with you at the academic / theoretical level, this just
doesn't make commercial sense in many cases. Make no mistake, I am a *big*
fan of cross-platform tools, but remember that these tools are designed to
make things easier for the *developer* not the end user. One only needs
look at the reception of Java by developers vs users to see that
cross-platform is almost irrelevant to the end-user (Not trying to start a
Java debate here folks ;) ).
If one product has a perceptible benefit (greater feature set, faster,
better integration) than another then it is unlikely that, "but ours is
cross-platform" is going to make up for lost sales.
The product I am currently developing was recently presented at a medical
trade show and even though it clearly said "Available Windows, Linux,
OS/X", out of 100's of enquires / expressions of interest we got precisely
ONE non-windows expression of interest from a Mac OS/X guy who ended up
telling us he would "knock up something similar himself" anyway.
It is my firm belief that non-Windows users are generally more technically
competent than their Windows counterparts (who MS keeps dumbed down). The
implications of this are that it is far easier to sell into the Windows
market. While I might not like this from a technical, social or moral
viewpoint; it is the commercial reality that we live with.
I suppose I see two REBOL worlds. One where small useful cross-platform
utilities and tools are distributed and used across the internet by anyone
with access; and another where larger applications integrate seemlessly
with a customers existing applications. In this later case REBOL must not
only play nice, it must play well.
> The best way to avoid becoming Nazgul is to decline Sauron's offer
> of a ring, no matter how shiny (and powerful) it may be.
Yes, but Frodo had to "accept" it (and its corrupting effects) for the
short term so as it could be destroyed in the long run. ;)
Regards,
Ashley
