The Future of the Software Industry

madro writes "Remember 'Does IT Matter?' a while ago? Nicholas Carr is back with an editorial in today's New York Times following Microsoft's decision to dramatically reduce its cash stash. Carr's take: Microsoft is admitting it can't find better uses for its cash, due to the growing maturation of the software industry. No mention of open source, although Apple's consumer-targeted model of free iTunes driving iPod demand is one listed alternative." Reader CodeArtisan submits another piece about Microsoft's loot distribution, and Newsforge (which is part of OSDN along with Slashdot) has a story about the future of commodity software.

Comments

MICROSOFT USED TO USE ITS CASH

[blair1q]

TO PAY ITS ENGINEERS BETTER

Now they get the same work for a fraction of the price.

Thanks, Mr. Bush. You lowered the tax on outsourcing and made this all possible.

AI self programming

[DigiShaman]

What happens when AI in computers become so advanced that we are no longer involved in their own programming. What if we just dictate to a computer and it programs and maintains itself automatically. Eventually, it forms its own nature form of complexity far beyond human management.

I guess at that point, we just "program" a computer through talking and exchanging ideas rather then sort through code in a methodical way like programmers having to do now.