[2523] in comp.os.os2.announce archive
David Coursey Commentary, Computerworld
daemon@ATHENA.MIT.EDU (Timothy F. Sipples)
Wed Feb 19 17:58:39 1997
To: os2ann.DISCUSS@bloom-picayune.MIT.EDU
Date: Sat, 08 Feb 1997 18:34:05 GMT
From: tsipple@us.ibm.com (Timothy F. Sipples)
Reply-To: tsipple@us.ibm.com (Timothy F. Sipples)
Reply-to: tsipple@us.ibm.com (Timothy F. Sipples)
---------------------------------------------------------------------
Don't let Microsoft hijack Java
David Coursey
I don't live in the Sun "Java is all things" reality-distortion field, but I
think Java could prove very important to business and personal computing. The
Internet needs a platform, and Java wants to provide it.
Java also wants to be the guarantor of cross-platform application
compatibility. The guarantor of a single target environment for developers of
client/server applications. The competitor that keeps Microsoft honest and
Netscape et al. alive.
If you think those things are important, it's time to start voting with your
voice and your dollars. I'll point you to the ballot box in a moment.
Why the call to action? Barely a year after deciding to support Java,
Microsoft appears to be planning to run off with it. The company is working on
a native-code compiler for Java that would let developers build faster Java
applets but only if they're optimized for Windows [CW, Dec. 2]. That could
fragment Java and ruin cross-platform compatibility if your idea of
cross-platform is broader than Windows and NT.
Does the world need Microsoft to add all manner of proprietary enhancements to
Java? I hardly think so. I've said for some time that Microsoft has failed to
learn the lessons of the Internet. "Internet values" are to Microsoft as
"family values" are to politicians: nice to talk about but something else
entirely to commit to. Microsoft doesn't understand that the Internet
explosion took place because open standards finally won a battle though
certainly not the war.
For all the lip service it pays to openness, Microsoft is really more
interested in customer lock-in than in advancing the state of the art. That's
sad because Microsoft would be just as big and just as strong if it played on
a level field. The only difference is that the company would have more teams
to play against, and we'd all benefit from that
But I just happen to have a convenient way for you to fight back. If you'd
like to make your feelings known, drop by the Microsoft Wish List
(www.microsoft.com/support/feedback/mswish.htm) and leave a comment. Please
send me a copy, too. I'll make sure they get to the proper executives in
Redmond.
This is your chance to be heard. Tell Microsoft to adhere to the standard Java
implementation being created by Sun, Netscape and virtually the entire
non-Microsoft world. Tell Microsoft you want a standard virtual machine, not
something the company dreamed up to keep you locked in to its operating
systems, development tools and applications. Tell Microsoft that compatibility
and openness more than make up for whatever bells and whistles it can offer as
incentives for customer lock-in.
The next six months may decide whether Java grows up as a platform or is
relegated to the status of a programming language (which won't threaten
Microsoft platforms). By doing nothing, you vote for the latter. Only by
raising a stink by making yourself heard loud and clear can you prevent Java
from being shunted off to the language lab.
When Java was licensed to Microsoft, I was against the move, which I hope both
Sun and Netscape now regret. The vendors failed to prevent a hijacking, but
maybe it isn't too late for the will of the corporate customer.
When Microsoft offers you a nonstandard Java implementation with features
neither Sun nor Netscape support insist that you want your Java straight,
without additives.
[Moderator's note: This post was approved as a special exception to the usual
rules of this group. I felt it was important enough to OS/2 users in general
to "bend the rules" in this case.
=====================================================================
| c.o.o.announce submissions: POST [or email comp-os-os2-announce@uunet.uu.net]
| Please address other correspondence to lfirrantello@bix.com .
| Please see: http://www.bix.com/pub/os2ann/pindex.htm for posting guidelines
