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Dave Whitinger announces LinSight
UuCon writes "On LinuxPR.com there is announcement about Co-Founder of Linux Today, Dave Whitinger has announced
LinSight. A "Powerful, artificially intelligent network of websites will provide world-class service to the Linux community." Funny thing that the first member of the team listed is Elton Wells, who has "left his position as Program Manager of Developer Tools at Microsoft to join LinSight". "
There's a difference between writing a system designed to be small and writing a small system.
If you design a large system, and starts to implement it, you will discover that the way you designed it is not working, but unfortunately, everything is written to support that design, so you're pretty much screwed. By writing a system which can function when it's small, you will always have something that's working. With a general design, you can easily upgrade it to something large that's working.
When you start designing a programming language, you usually design the core language first, and then adds the standard library, making it a large language that way. Doing it that way, you get C, Ada or Common Lisp. By making it large in the first place, you get C++ and Visual Basic.
And need I remind you that UNIX is a small OS with a lot of additions, while Windows is a large unorganized chaos? No, Windows is not a DOS patch. Windows is a large GUI without any real OS inside, in which they threw DOS because they didn't have time or brains to anything else.
And Emacs started out as the "E MACroS for TECO", while Word started out as a large program.
There's nothing wrong with designing something to only be large, but normally you do that the second time, when you know what you want and the old design needs to be replaced.
-segfault
> A significant part of their success is based on making it easy to develop...
While I agree that MSDN is an invaluable resource, I think that most of its value stems from the fact that it's SO DAMN HARD to develop for Windows.
Without MSDN to handhold them, there'd be very few developers that would make it over the inital learning hump.
That said, I've sure found MSDN useful. Nothing wrong with providing good developer resources.
This MS person seems to be UTK Alumini. (Google serch result.) See following:
s .html
http://www.cs.utk.edu/news/Newsletter/alumninew
But he is not in Redmond but in N.C few hours from RedHat.
Yep you're the only one who thinks it's interesting. There are something like 30,000 people whow work for Microsoft, who gives a shit if some of them quit and go to work for a Linux startup?
Yet Another Portal.
Reminds me of the Jane's Addiction song, "Cash In!".
Portal - "poor-tul":
Central hub from which spokes of targeted advertising extend.
The guy is/was a PM on VB, which there are probably between 50 and 100. VB is just one of the many many dev tools that MS makes.
He also has zero people reporting to him. Not that this alone makes him a loser, but it does help to assert that he is not a "major driving force in tools".
There are tons and tons of PMs at Microsoft. The fact that one, relatively unknown, has decided to join a Linux startup means next to nothing.
In my opinion, I would guess that LinSight,m aside from the PR BS, is probably not getting its money's worth....
I actually thought of Linux Solution Developers Network. Also LSD(N) Online also would give most developers a high :-)
O this learning! What a thing it is - William Shakespeare
So it's not really intelligent, it just appears that way?
:) -- denotes intention of sarcasm.
Just read to me like 'Artifically Flavored' or something.
Blech. Signatures.
In view of the number of ideas Microsoft have borrowed from Unix over the years, it's obvious there are people in Bill's company who really are specialists, maybe more than in many another Unix-using or Unix-developing company. The only programs Microsoft make a cock-up of are Microsoft programs - but of course, they have their reasons for that :--)
Adam:What kept you?
God:Rome wasn't built in a day
You , sir, are lacking in knowledge about the reputation of a man of which you know nothing about. Do you realize what "developer tools" at Microsoft is???? Do you???? It's only the product group that makes the software that makes every fucking piece of software on Windows and thensome!! I have even used the BADASS developer tools from MS to make mother fucking LINUX programs because there really is nothing on LINUX thus far that can beat the MS Debugger for VC++. Do you realize what a BMF this guy must be to be a program manager in that department. .....get your head out of your friggin ass and think about it. I applaud his bravery from coming from MS and assured wealth to the UnderDog of the computing industry. Whatever this guy is doing I will watch with great enthusiasm, and I hope that we start to get more talent from MS because LINUX could sure use it!!!! And in case your wondering....Linux and UNIX are the most prevalent operating systems in CS departments at every major University. If you knew your shit pal you would realize that in order to get a mother fucking job @ MS you 1. Have to have a degree...which means that you have to attend college (something with which I'm sure you have no clue) and 2. you have to be a badass.......So give this guy a chance and shut the fuck up already..... get a clue..........
Progman.exe, its still there on 95 and 98. some people, I guess really like it. I don't know about NT, though
Ooo, Yet Another Linux Portal. Forgive my lack of excitement. I'll apologize when it gets so cool that it replaces Slashdot as my "Home" site. (but it'd have to be pretty customizable and real frickin' intelligent for that. Maybe if they let me browse slashdot stories, and track specific software apps (as opposed to freshmeat, which tracks tons of stuff I don't care about...) and give me links to my comics and stuff...)
:) now in charge of developing a Linux site. Provided it doesn't end up being evil. (like, say, IE "enhanced"...)
I see nothing wrong with having someone who used to have to work at Microsoft (but at least get to take their money
However, some people might not take this point of view. Like this coward, here. It's somewhat telling that the Anti-Linux section is also the FreeBSD section... What lamers.
Of course, if you get sick of Linux or Microsoft bashing, there's also a section of very mature statements on relationships, and the classic Series 8 Garbage Pail Kids...
There's also a "Free IPO Offering". It's a shame I can't just short their stock now.
---
pb Reply or e-mail rather than vaguely moderate.
pb Reply or e-mail; don't vaguely moderate.
You get a zillion usenet cool points. err... slashdot cool points that is.
Oh yeah, you're now required to bitch about walking through snow uphill both ways to get kernels in 1991 in every "new kernel out" story.
And just because you worked at Microsoft doesn't automatically mean you' don't have a clue either. And exactly how do you know the main reason he's coming over is for PR? Do you have any proof or are you just shooting your mouth off about something which you don't have a single fact? Just proving your anti MS zealotry again?
Does anybody know what the business model is? People of this calibre are going to want some return from their efforts. If they charge for access, a lot of people are going to be annoyed. They could try to support it with advertising, but that presents it's own problems.
Alternatively, they could make the resource freely available and charge a lot for consultancy.
Incidentally, however much you dislike Microsoft, their developer support (MSDN etc) has always been good. A significant part of their success is based on making it easy to develop software for their platforms. A similar quality resource for Linux in one location could provide a tremendous boost. Companies considering ports from other platforms would certainly see a single point for Linux development resources as a major benefit.
I wish them well.
"I hate people who can't leave a good thing alone..." Exactly why bother trying to improve on something when what's there is good enough? Who needs Mozilla? Lynx is good enough! Who keeds KDE/Gnome CLI is all anyone needs! Who needs...
They are going to start a large number of web sites, and an AI system which analyzes the user and determines which web sites (s)he might be interrested in? That's a strange decision order. Why don't they create the web sites first, and when the amount gets out of hand, then they could development systems to make the navigation easier.
It's my professional opinion that the only proper way of developing very large software systems is to build a small to medium system, and then patch it up to large. These guys are starting to build something large, and thus it will probably fail.
-segfault
I give a...well, I think it's significant, and hope that it is a trend. Defections from the Evil Empire, if such they be, are to be applauded. After all, one of Microsoft's bits of dirty dealing is hiring away talent, and movement of talent in the opposite direction is a Good Thing.
See, part of the problem is that the person who invented Linux, Marc Andreesson, is from Belgium, where the word "Linux" (a kind of cheese) is pronounced to rhyme with "peanuts," whereas Al Gore, the person who's done most of the work on the Linux "colonel" (or "graphical user interface" -- the shorter name is a pun on the fact that the rank of colonel is one above "major," and Gore has made the MAJOR contributions to Linux -- get it? See why programmers are renowned as the wacky funsters they are?), is actually from Florida, where "Linux" was the name of the main character in his neighbor and future running mate Chuck "Spuds" Schulz' comic strip "Peanuts" (recall what Linux sounds like in Belgian! see how the wheels turn within wheels in this pun stuff?)
*chuckle* Whoo! Ah me. Let me catch my breath.
SO, when this article came out referring to LinSight, where the second syllable rhymes with "Line" (hey, is this a reference to LINES of code? I just got that!), it was seen as an opportunity to "mine" the rich "vein" (maybe "LaneSight"?) of humor in an otherwise serious controversy, maybe gently nudging people to lighten up (or "litten up" -- can you see how the possibilities are endless? Isn't it GREAT? ["grite?"]) and maybe pause to reflect on man's inhumanity to man. Or something.
But I didn't catch the LinSight/insight thing. Thanks!
As a program manager, dev tools? Probably do planning/organization for at least some of MS development software line; figure that the company has a decent number of people who *aren't* SDEs (Software Development Engineers) but do get to coordinate them.
It's *not* a coding position.
Only the dead have seen the end of war.
As I remember in my year old Maximum PC...Linus himself said he would gladly work for Microsoft. So much for his ethical values. He'd sell out in a second. And no, this isn't FUD.
Just because you are a PM at Microsoft doesn't automatically qualify you as someone with a clue! The main reason why this guy is coming over is solely for PR purposes. (Yeah Linux is so cool even Microsoft people are quitting and joining the team.) If he didn't work there they wouldn't even have considered him. #1) This guy is a Visual Basic PM - He cannot even code in C.. ! #2) Here is one of the aliases he is on "Engineers learning C and Win32". With all of those years of Linux experience I would have thought he Already knew C.. P.R. thats it .. nothing but show me some Microsoftie converts.
Why would anyone want to work there very long?
If they can bring it together in a well done, usable fashion, it'll be an awfully hand resource.
The only concern I would have is that it will either be lacking in total content, or it will thrust too much info at users.
Having a central site for info is also a great way to combat the fud that says there is no good place to turn for linux support. We'll see..
The idiot that posted this forgot that while hostnames aren't case sensitive some parts of the URL are. Drow everything to lowercase and you can get to where this moron wanted you to go -- not that there's anything terribly funny there.
Yes, the tone around here is that Microsoft suits are evil. I'm not nuts about Microsoft's products or their business practices, but just because someone worked as a Microsoft suit doesn't mean they are coming to suck the soul out of our beloved penguin.
As Linux becomes more and more profitable, you will see more and more people coming from the "dark side".
I'm no more happy about it than any of you are.
aÍÍ©ÍÌÍ£Ì'̽ͩÌÍzÍYÌÍÌY
--
Fair enough, and I agree to an extent, but I don't think I'm prejudging this guy, and certainly not prejudging him or this company based solely on his employment history. I am intrigued by the fact that his employment with M$ was deemed important enough to warrant mention in the press release. BTW, I too use M$ products on a daily basis (with varying degrees of sucess) as they are a staple of corporate life.
~Religion is O.K., as long as it gets you laid.
Am I the only one who thinks it's interesting that a former M$ employee is not only jumping ship for this, but that this company is so forthright about his employment history? Admittedly, developer relations was one of M$ strong points, so it's not a bad pedigree. One would have to question how much real linux experience he has (no mention of what copyleft projects he worked on) but then again, this is a wide-open and fast developing frontier. As far as the efficacy of their site, I definitely think that there is room in the market for a single point of reference for technical support. Linuxcare.com, Redhat, etc. all are providing pieces of the puzzle, but nobody has bundled a comprehensive, simple update and info site with much success. Best of luck to them, I guess.
~Religion is O.K., as long as it gets you laid.
I would like to see an LSDN online with comprehensive information that is well organised like the MSDN Online site. The metaphor of books is well used there. It would help system administrators, developers and managers in finding information quickly at a single point.
O this learning! What a thing it is - William Shakespeare
adj.
Um... I found a great series of web sights that contain all the Linux documentation I could want, in addition to one of the largest software repositories for Linux in the world. They are: LinuxDoc and FreshMeat.
In case you didn't know about these, they are very useful sites. I don't see any practical or realistic need for another one.
However I can understand that if you throw enough PR $$ into yours you might be able to convince any newbies that you were there first and sites like LinuxDoc and FreshMeat are FUD sites. Then you can start cramming ads or even charging for access to these sites!!
What a business plan!!
I hate people who can't leave a good thing alone...
Pardon my ignorance, but what does someone in charge of Development Tools do?
Stupid question, but I really just wanted to see if my mozilla build could post ;-) Built with glibc2.0 too (which is supposed to crash, but it's not any more).
This guy used to be a Program Manager at MS?
Didn't they get rid of that thing after Windows 3.1?
:)
Quidquid latine dictum sit, altum viditur.
So which way should this be pronounced: "LineSight" or "LeenSight" ?
Pronounce it with a short i, it rhymes with insight.
Mr. Gr4mm4r D00d
Elton Wells: Elton has left his position as Program Manager of Developer Tools at Microsoft to join LinSight. He brings years of Linux experience, and will be responsible for the development of LinSight
It's quite obvious that years of linux experience at microsoft means that they MUST BE STEALING GPL CODE AND USING IT! Panic...
smile, it's funny
Three Step Plan:
1. Take over the world.
2. Get a lot of cookies.
3. Eat the cookies.
The song is called "Coming down the mountain" not cash in. It's just a verse you smuck.
Which word associations are they trying to trigger?
"Lin" for "Linux," presumably.
"Sight" for "[in]Sight?" or "[web] site?"
I see "sight" for "site" so often that I wonder.