[...] > The only job I see for lawyers is for someone to > decide if OpenMotif's > not-quite-open license allows it to be used on > OpenSolaris, in which case, > it might be amusing if someone would determine if, > _on OpenSolaris_ > (never mind what's _supposed_ to be true > generically), current OpenMotif > is _binary_ compatible with whatever 2.x version Sun > has historically provided > as part of their distribution of CDE (which is a bit > odd in its own right, in > terms of being a 1.x CDE enhanced nearly or in some > ways beyond 2.x CDE). [...]
Hmm...I looked around a little, and saw: http://www.motifdeveloper.com/tips/Motif22Review.pdf (major criticisms of OpenMotif 2.2 - not sure who this originated from, but I think I saw something elsewhere from OpenGroup that also recommended against OpenMotif 2.2) But then, in the OpenMotif 2.3.2 release notes: http://www.motifzone.com/files/public_downloads/openmotif/2.3/2.3.2/RELEASE > 6. Compatibility Notice > > Open Motif 2.3.x is binary compatible with Open Motif 2.2.x. > Applications built against Open Motif 2.2 should work with Open Motif 2.3.x > without having to recompile it. > > Open Motif 2.3.x is not binary compatible with Open Motif 2.1.30. > Applications built against Open Motif 2.1.30 will need to be recompiled > with the Open Motif 2.2+ header files. Putting that all together, I think there may be a problem having something that's _both_ binary compatible with what's presently on Solaris (or available in binary-only now for OpenSolaris, from what I think I've read), and _also_ has some of the newer features. And I would tentatively conclude that an a11y solution for a version of Motif that would be binary compatible (at the very least) is commercial-only at this time. I would of course be glad to be proved wrong. Part of the problem (in my perception, at least) is the apparent p_ssing content between ICS (with OpenMotif 2.2 and successors; they are or were apparently the designated maintainers, yet see the previous criticisms of 2.2) and IST, and the Open Group either caught in their contract (if they have one) with ICS, or else (in my way of thinking) failing to provide leadership. Heck, as far as anything I've read goes, the Open Group's only interest in Motif at this point is that for non-open OSs, they still derive a fair bit of income from the license fees. Other than that, they seem to give it so little attention on their web site that I wonder if they don't _want_ it to, if not go away, at least be someone else's problem. Personally, I'd like to see that solved, in such a way as to result in a version that's binary-compatible with 2.1 but with needed extra features. I don't see that available _now_. I'd also like to see it fully open, but as long as the (in my possibly incorrect interpretation) situation is that the Open Group wants Motif to be a revenue stream but doesn't want to invest in it themselves anymore, I am less optimistic than I'd like to be over something I'd very much like to see survive and continue to meet people's needs. Even absent any further action by the Open Group, if ICS and IST were coordinating their efforts _and_ mindful of the desirability of binary compatibility with 2.1, the outcome I'd like might still eventually happen. But all the players appear to have a stake in going their own ways, regardless of whether the collective effect is to further reduce interest in [Open]Motif for any new development. All IMO of course, and without any claim that I have a clue or am advising anyone to do anything other than whatever they decide for themselves... -- This message posted from opensolaris.org _______________________________________________ opensolaris-code mailing list opensolaris-code@opensolaris.org http://mail.opensolaris.org/mailman/listinfo/opensolaris-code
