Open Source leader? (was Re: Celebrity advice)

[Anton Vredegoor]

Jacek Generowicz <jacek.generowicz at cern.ch> wrote:

>anton at vredegoor.doge.nl (Anton Vredegoor) writes:
>
>> -If microsoft hadn't stalled progress in software development by
>> hiding the algorithms used for their software we would *now* be
>> there where we will be in twenty years.
>
>I think that Microsoft has stalled progress, not by hiding any
>worderful technology that they might have, but by making the vast
>majority of users accept sub-mediocrity as the norm.

Maybe the average computer user doesn't care how software programs are
written and will accept mediocre software. However if sourcecode is
available some portion of the users will repair bugs or fork into a
better branch.

>They have run a hugely successful advertising campaign for the whole
>concept of sub-mediocrity; the desire for quality is what has
>suffered. By doing so, they have greatly influenced the direction of
>progress and of the meaning of "better". In the Microsoft mindset
>"better" means that the bouncy paperclip moves more smoothly, and can
>now do the cha-cha as well as the samba ... while it remains perfectly
>acceptable to have to reboot the computer each time you want to
>install a new piece of software.

Since you're humoring me and accept "what if" scenarios I don't feel
like criticizing. However we should not be ungrateful to Microsoft
since one way or the other they have provided us with at least one
possible branch of software development. As wrong as it is to
contemplate Microsofts accomplishments and compare it with the "no
software at all" scenario, it is also wrong to assume it was the best
possible path taken. As insight into these matters matures we now know
with the benefit of hindsight that proprietary standards and closed
source suck. We should keep the option open for Microsoft to better
their ways however far they have strayed from the path and even if
they are prone to reverting to the embrace and extend pitfall. This
*does* imply to be wary though if they're turning around and come
back.

Anton