Re: SwaNH Info eXchange: Software Tools of the Future: what would you say?
On Fri, 23 Sep 2005 14:37:38 -0400 Bill McGonigle [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: On Sep 23, 2005, at 07:00, Jon maddog Hall wrote: I would point out why software development under Open Source is better than closed source techniques: o peer review o rapid turnaround of development o large numbers of field testers Just to amplify where maddog's going - the future of writing software is writing as little software as possible. Bill Sconce Also, and not least: o software which, after being developed, you will still be able to run a few years from now Perhaps you've been following Massachusetts's decision on OpenDocument - e.g., http://www.groklaw.net/article.php?story=20050925165302314 which is timely press about this aspect of open standards. -Bill ___ gnhlug-org mailing list gnhlug-org@mail.gnhlug.org http://mail.gnhlug.org/mailman/listinfo/gnhlug-org
Re: SwaNH Info eXchange: Software Tools of the Future: what would you say?
On Fri, 23 Sep 2005 14:37:38 -0400 Bill McGonigle [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: On Sep 23, 2005, at 07:00, Jon maddog Hall wrote: I would point out why software development under Open Source is better than closed source techniques: o peer review o rapid turnaround of development o large numbers of field testers A possible helpful handout, a recent article from a periodical which some SwaNH members probably read, the Wall Street Journal. (I myself had heard about plans for Longhorn being scrapped, but I didn't realize how deep the reset has been. The idea that Dave Cutler Himself could be brought to preach integration quality is breathtaking.) WSJ sees the open-source development approach (as practiced by Google) eating Microsoft's lunch. Might that be useful in a Software Tools of the Future presentation?. From Friday at http://online.wsj.com/article/0,,SB112743680328349448,00.html ...the growing threat from rivals such as Google Inc., Apple Computer Inc. and makers of the free Linux operating system. In recent years these companies have been dashing out some software innovations faster than Microsoft. Google has grown particularly effective at introducing new programs such as email and instant messaging over the Internet, watching how they perform and regularly replacing them with improved versions. Microsoft's Windows can't entirely replicate that approach... But Microsoft is now racing to move in that direction... 'What happened when the American car companies failed to update their manufacturing lines? There was a more efficient way to bring cars to market for a lower price and they lost their market,' says Microsoft Vice President Chris Jones. 'We're in a little bit of a different industry but it's the same thing.' ___ gnhlug-org mailing list gnhlug-org@mail.gnhlug.org http://mail.gnhlug.org/mailman/listinfo/gnhlug-org
Re: SwaNH Info eXchange: Software Tools of the Future: what would you say?
I would point out why software development under Open Source is better than closed source techniques: o peer review o rapid turnaround of development o large numbers of field testers o etc. (sent from the Korean Airlines departure lounge) md -- Jon maddog Hall Executive Director Linux International(R) email: [EMAIL PROTECTED] 80 Amherst St. Voice: +1.603.672.4557 Amherst, N.H. 03031-3032 U.S.A. WWW: http://www.li.org Board Member: Uniforum Association, USENIX Association (R)Linux is a registered trademark of Linus Torvalds in several countries. (R)Linux International is a registered trademark in the USA used pursuant to a license from Linux Mark Institute, authorized licensor of Linus Torvalds, owner of the Linux trademark on a worldwide basis (R)UNIX is a registered trademark of The Open Group in the USA and other countries. ___ gnhlug-org mailing list gnhlug-org@mail.gnhlug.org http://mail.gnhlug.org/mailman/listinfo/gnhlug-org
Re: SwaNH Info eXchange: Software Tools of the Future: what would you say?
On Sep 23, 2005, at 12:47 PM, Lloyd Kvam wrote: If you get too many responses you'll fill a whole lot more than ten minutes. Oh, I'm sure I'll need to pick and choose, prioritize and see what I can fit in. But the more insights I have, the better my understanding of other's perspectives on this. ___ gnhlug-org mailing list gnhlug-org@mail.gnhlug.org http://mail.gnhlug.org/mailman/listinfo/gnhlug-org
Re: SwaNH Info eXchange: Software Tools of the Future: what would you say?
On Sep 23, 2005, at 07:00, Jon maddog Hall wrote: I would point out why software development under Open Source is better than closed source techniques: o peer review o rapid turnaround of development o large numbers of field testers Just to amplify where maddog's going - the future of writing software is writing as little software as possible. To use perl as an example, just about every algorithm you're likely to need to implement has been done already, is on CPAN, has been refactored three times to the degree you didn't realize you needed it to be (but is obviously right on examination) and has been debugged by dozens of other people. When you do hit a bug, there are usually a dozen people on a mailing list, and one of them has either hit it, fixed it, or can point you in the right direction. If you do fix it, you throw it back over the fence and someone else takes care of it from there. In turn, perhaps you take on the responsibility for one very small bit of code to return the favor. Many hands make light work. To write a tool, these days I go to CPAN, find the parts I need, and string them together. Maybe this is the era of Software Construction - I sure don't expect the guy framing my garage to show up the first day with a chainsaw and a Wood Mizer. From a business perspective, this gets you software done faster and more correctly for less money. Call it productivity if you like, but I dare someone writing everything from scratch to bid against me using CPAN. Now, Sun and Microsoft would both like to offer you that component library in their favorite flavors, but they necessarily have a limited scope of interest and their library grows more slowly than ours does. The best part is it's not a zero-sum game. Everybody gets a lift from this model. (sent from the Korean Airlines departure lounge) Great, I'll be sitting at InfoeXchange while maddog eats Pho with a brigade of OSS fanatics. Good work if you can get it. :) -Bill - Bill McGonigle, Owner Work: 603.448.4440 BFC Computing, LLC Home: 603.448.1668 [EMAIL PROTECTED] Mobile: 603.252.2606 http://www.bfccomputing.com/Pager: 603.442.1833 Jabber: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Text: [EMAIL PROTECTED] RSS: http://blog.bfccomputing.com/rss ___ gnhlug-org mailing list gnhlug-org@mail.gnhlug.org http://mail.gnhlug.org/mailman/listinfo/gnhlug-org
Re: SwaNH Info eXchange: Software Tools of the Future: what would you say?
On Sep 23, 2005, at 2:37 PM, Bill McGonigle wrote: Just to amplify where maddog's going - the future of writing software is writing as little software as possible. Excellent points! Looks like I'm going to have a lot to stuff into my ten minutes of fame! ___ gnhlug-org mailing list gnhlug-org@mail.gnhlug.org http://mail.gnhlug.org/mailman/listinfo/gnhlug-org
