Re: tlug: PJE

[Chris Sekiya <chris@example.com>]

On Sat, 22 Aug 1998, Stephen J. Turnbull wrote:

> Well, looking at the quotes above (all those stupid ">"), I can
> certainly agree that clued-in users with flexible software is a
> GoodThang[tm].

*laugh* One of these days I'll dust off my mailreader project.

> Yet I don't agree with Chris that StarOffice is the start of a
> slippery slope that leads to Linux-based spamming by clueless scum
> with a Linux port of "The Stealth Mailer", with an intermediate stop
> at double-CDROM-drive workstations so that when one auto-extruding
> cupholder breaks, you don't drop your coffee mug.

I'll let this one go past, as it's a subjective perception sort of thing.

>     jb> If a proprietary product that good comes along,
>     jb> then the Open Source authors, too, must innovate if they want
>     jb> to maintain market share.  That's competition.  That's good.
>     jb> That's the market system.  That's good.
> 
> Yeah, what he said.  Chris?

Hmmm.  I'll take a stab at it.

Most Open Source (as opposed to Free Software) coders wouldn't have
bothered to code if a similar product were available.  Linus, too -- I
refer to his quote about the effect an available 386BSD would have had on
his initial Linux work.

Real-world example: JWP.  Used to be the best/only Japanese wapuro on
English Intel boxes.  Source code was readily available.

JWP died as soon as (hmmm, can't remember the name of the product --
memory is going) became available.  There was no longer any point to JWP
from the developer's point of view[1].

I fear that this will happen more and more frequently ...

> You don't just hand out licenses to drive tractor-trailer rigs, and a
> single Linux box is a potential instrument of mass destruction.  (I am
> not equating lives with spam or the Internet Worm, although today the
> Worm could conceivably kill.  However, once you factor out the value
> of the entity at risk, Linux or any computer system multiplies the
> danger in ways that a mechanical device cannot.)

I wish that I'd have thought of the above ;)

-- Chris

[1] I don't think the X JWP project counts.  It appears to be dead.  Zero
    traffic on the mailing list (except for pings) since May or so.

--------------------------------------------------------------
Next Nomikai: 18 September, 19:30 Tengu TokyoEkiMae 03-3275-3691
Next Meeting: 10 October, Tokyo Station Yaesu central gate 12:30
--------------------------------------------------------------
Sponsor: PHT, makers of TurboLinux http://www.pht.co.jp