🚀 go-pugleaf

[Disclaimer: This is all my personal opinion. I work for a vendor, but
I do not speak for that vendor, nor do I set its policy.]


geoff@world.std.com (Geoff Collyer) writes:
>>	What *IS* an "Open System"??
>
>Gee, that sounds like my cue.  I'll give my usual commentary first and
>then elaborate a bit.  "Open Systems" is a command; "Open" is a verb.
>You can probably guess what vendors mean when they utter it (it's aimed at
>your wallet).
>
>The last open system I used actively was a VAX 750; the hardware was
>documented sufficiently well that one could write operating system code
>for it (without having to beg, grovel, sign non-disclosure agreements,
>bribe your vendor, sue your vendor, or sell your soul to the devil).

	What makes having the hardware documented "Open"?? It seems to
me that you're defining an "Open System" as any system which you can
*FIX* yourself if you don't like what the vendor's done with it. Some
of us prefer to just change vendors.

	I don't think it's *POSSIBLE* to define "Open Systems" meaningfully.
I've heard some folks define "Open Systems" in terms of applications
portability - but - do you see the hook? It's not the vendor that
provides applications portability!! (As Geoff should know, if anyone does!)

	Is it possible that "Open Systems" means "We're abrogating our
responsibility to make it GOOD in favor of making it CHEAP?"

	Other people have told me that "Open Systems" means that the
system conforms to all relevant industry and de facto standards. That's
also nice, but that still means that you get to ensure the portability
yourself, and that you're still at the mercy of the quality of the
implementation of the standard. Is it possible that "Open Systems" is
much like saying, "Here's a bunch of industry standard sheep fur. If
you want a coat, go for it!"?

	Is it possible that when someone says they want "Open Systems"
they're saying they want "cheap, fast, and good?" - most likely. One
thing for sure - in the open systems arena, there ain't no such thing
as a free lunch. Or is that an "Open Lunch"?

mjr.