Should we trust .NET? (was Re: PHP vs. Python/comp.lang.php?)

[Ken Seehof]

> "DeepBlue" <DeepBlue at DeepBlue.org> wrote in message
> news:u0a0qpdf7npqa1 at corp.supernews.com...
> >
> > "Jonathan Gardner" <jgardn at alumni.washington.edu> wrote in message
> > news:mailman.1006958441.30706.python-list at python.org...
> > > Ken Seehof wrote:
> > > > >
> > > > > more. True, I think .NET is cool - but I'll only use it if MS
keeps
> it
> > > > > promise and ports it too Linux and such.
> > > >
> > > > Odds of MS keeping any promises of this kind: 0.027%
> > > >
> > > > It has never been in MS's best interest to be compatible with the
rest
> > of
> > > > the
> > > > computing world.
> > > >
> > >
> > > Look at Visual C++. Portability? Compatability? Ha.
> > >
> > > Look what they did to Java, HTTP, HTML, and JavaScript.
> > >
> > What did they do to Java, HTTP, HTML, and JavaScript?
> >
> > > Microsoft is in the business of making money, not software.
> > >
> > Is Sun and Netscape any different?
>
> Yes, in so far as they seem to feel that their best interests are served
by
> adhering to standards and interoperating with other peopple's
> implementations.
>
> regards
>  Steve
> --
> http://www.holdenweb.com/

It's not simply that MS is evil.  If a corporation is attempting to defend
or establish a monopoly (or near monopoly) it is not generally profitable to
increase compatibility, since compatibility tends to create a level playing
field.  Since neither Sun nor Netscape have displaced Microsoft's lead
position, they profit by creating a level playing field.  As MS loses some
market share perhaps they will start behaving nicer :-)

Also, the Open Source community generally likes to maximize
interoperability, because the utility of the software and size of the user
base tend to be the most important design objectives, whereas creating
leverage for operating system market dominance is not an issue.

- Ken Seehof