You should really check out a utility for FreeBSD called mergemaster. You run it after rebuilding/upgrading your system and it compares the latest "vanilla" system configuration files to what you've got.
You can choose to overwrite your file, keep your file or merge the two together. I like to think of it as the ultimate choice in system housekeeping.
That's a good question...also, what kind of penalties are there for "transgressing" on someone elses frequencies?
Also, how would location play into these bandwidth restrictions? Certainly some can be divided up geographically, but as more and more "global" services come into play, won't there need to be some kind of universal frequencies? (Like GUARD on the radio)
"...provides reusable code for basic data exchange between systems"
Does this smell like Java to people? Obviously, the comparisons have to be limited considering the disparate usages of these two systems. It's definitely an exciting technology, and provided that backwards compatiability with the HTTP protocol is maintained (this should be trivial considering the extensibility of this spec)this could be a god-send (Just make sure it MAINTAINS STATE)
One thing that I'm worried about is the extensible nature of the spec. This would seem to present the same possibilities as the Sun/MS controversy over the proprietary MS instructions contained in their VM - what's to say that can't be done in a browser?
The article doesn't concentrate the exact nature of the extensibility of the BXXP speca and that worries me somewhat. Obviously, since it uses XML, objects can have context, but still I'm worried about 3rd parties (i.e. M$) creating proprietary "extensible" features.
Is there any more sources of information (other than the links provided) on this spec?
Not to be rude...but this entire article strikes me as a great big "DUH?".
Isn't this obvious? The beauty of the web currently is that it eliminates location and time as restrictions in activity. Not only can I register for my classes from the comfort of my pajamas in my dorm room, but I can do so at 4am! I don't need to wait outside my department for hours to make sure that I get the classes I need. Accessibility is indeed key, and the web is an outstanding medium (assuming you have a half-decent net connection) to provide accessibility to all.
But that could be just the tip of the iceburg...those are obvious uses of the web.
What I see as the great possibilities offered by the web is the opportunity for process re-engineering and stream-lining. Individuals and organizations will quickly realize that processes and procedures that worked well on pencil and paper don't neccessarily translate well to a web environment. In putting features onto the web, developers are forced (hopefully) to evaluate those procedures and (again hopefully) break them down into managable parts.
These parts are the key...because I've found that there are staggering amounts of duplication in today's world. Each business and individual seems intent on reinventing the proverbial wheel, which results in enormous amounts of wasted work. So let's talk components instead...work off the established work of others (hmm...I smell something like Open-Source!) and spend the majority of development time concentrating on the true focus of a project or activity! That leads to a cost-effective approach to development because the time spent on a project is really devoted to that project and not the underlying foundation of it!
With the help of standards (perferably open ones) in business and technology, the field is ripe for integration and extension. I see the web as the medium in which this can happen most easily...and that's (IMHO) the future of the web. Look at XML for example...
Sure, a $450 billion market is certainly attractive, but there's much more out there =)
I certainly agree with many of your comments, and you make a well-reasoned argument.
With respect to cyclical resources, I would argue that when matter is converted to energy, that we're not going to be seeing it again except as heat, but that's neither here nor there.
I certainly wouldn't argue against your statements regarding the nature of humanity. The competitive nature of humanity is what drives us, and pushes us towards challenges rather than away from then (otherwise I wouldn't be typing this, but rather writing on a cave wall with a rock. I would argue that, in the interests of humanity, spreading us out will potentially diminish the effects of one stupid action (pushing the button, etc.) on the entire race.
And seeing how I'm not going to be around forever, I'd love to see the start of that journey.
Well, this is definitely a boost for the hopes of manned exploration of Mars, which means that this technology will almost certainly not be used to it's full potential.
It constantly astounds me that world governments, with all the obvious environmental problems, refuse to whole-heartedly endorse space programs. Certainly, the lack of participation of nations in the shape of Russia (although their space program is/was generally good) is understandable, but the U.S. and other prosperous countries need to take some leadership here.
An Internation Space Station is a good start, but the political infighting regarding the development of it is discouraging. We need governments to realize that, with 6 billion people on the earth, that we don't have the resources to maintain an acceptable standard of living infinitely.
Traveling to another planet to explore, in a precursor to either inhabitation or mining, would be an even better use of this technology. I for one hope that world governments wake up (and that waking up is continigent upon public sentiment) and realize that right now is the time to radically advance our exploration of space.
Slashdot Mirror
You should really check out a utility for FreeBSD called mergemaster. You run it after rebuilding/upgrading your system and it compares the latest "vanilla" system configuration files to what you've got.
You can choose to overwrite your file, keep your file or merge the two together. I like to think of it as the ultimate choice in system housekeeping.
That's a good question...also, what kind of penalties are there for "transgressing" on someone elses frequencies?
Also, how would location play into these bandwidth restrictions? Certainly some can be divided up geographically, but as more and more "global" services come into play, won't there need to be some kind of universal frequencies? (Like GUARD on the radio)
"...provides reusable code for basic data exchange between systems"
Does this smell like Java to people? Obviously, the comparisons have to be limited considering the disparate usages of these two systems. It's definitely an exciting technology, and provided that backwards compatiability with the HTTP protocol is maintained (this should be trivial considering the extensibility of this spec)this could be a god-send (Just make sure it MAINTAINS STATE)
One thing that I'm worried about is the extensible nature of the spec. This would seem to present the same possibilities as the Sun/MS controversy over the proprietary MS instructions contained in their VM - what's to say that can't be done in a browser?
The article doesn't concentrate the exact nature of the extensibility of the BXXP speca and that worries me somewhat. Obviously, since it uses XML, objects can have context, but still I'm worried about 3rd parties (i.e. M$) creating proprietary "extensible" features.
Is there any more sources of information (other than the links provided) on this spec?
Not to be rude...but this entire article strikes me as a great big "DUH?".
Isn't this obvious? The beauty of the web currently is that it eliminates location and time as restrictions in activity. Not only can I register for my classes from the comfort of my pajamas in my dorm room, but I can do so at 4am! I don't need to wait outside my department for hours to make sure that I get the classes I need. Accessibility is indeed key, and the web is an outstanding medium (assuming you have a half-decent net connection) to provide accessibility to all.
But that could be just the tip of the iceburg...those are obvious uses of the web.
What I see as the great possibilities offered by the web is the opportunity for process re-engineering and stream-lining. Individuals and organizations will quickly realize that processes and procedures that worked well on pencil and paper don't neccessarily translate well to a web environment. In putting features onto the web, developers are forced (hopefully) to evaluate those procedures and (again hopefully) break them down into managable parts.
These parts are the key...because I've found that there are staggering amounts of duplication in today's world. Each business and individual seems intent on reinventing the proverbial wheel, which results in enormous amounts of wasted work. So let's talk components instead...work off the established work of others (hmm...I smell something like Open-Source!) and spend the majority of development time concentrating on the true focus of a project or activity! That leads to a cost-effective approach to development because the time spent on a project is really devoted to that project and not the underlying foundation of it!
With the help of standards (perferably open ones) in business and technology, the field is ripe for integration and extension. I see the web as the medium in which this can happen most easily...and that's (IMHO) the future of the web. Look at XML for example...
Sure, a $450 billion market is certainly attractive, but there's much more out there =)
I certainly agree with many of your comments, and you make a well-reasoned argument.
With respect to cyclical resources, I would argue that when matter is converted to energy, that we're not going to be seeing it again except as heat, but that's neither here nor there.
I certainly wouldn't argue against your statements regarding the nature of humanity. The competitive nature of humanity is what drives us, and pushes us towards challenges rather than away from then (otherwise I wouldn't be typing this, but rather writing on a cave wall with a rock. I would argue that, in the interests of humanity, spreading us out will potentially diminish the effects of one stupid action (pushing the button, etc.) on the entire race.
And seeing how I'm not going to be around forever, I'd love to see the start of that journey.
Well, this is definitely a boost for the hopes of manned exploration of Mars, which means that this technology will almost certainly not be used to it's full potential.
It constantly astounds me that world governments, with all the obvious environmental problems, refuse to whole-heartedly endorse space programs. Certainly, the lack of participation of nations in the shape of Russia (although their space program is/was generally good) is understandable, but the U.S. and other prosperous countries need to take some leadership here.
An Internation Space Station is a good start, but the political infighting regarding the development of it is discouraging. We need governments to realize that, with 6 billion people on the earth, that we don't have the resources to maintain an acceptable standard of living infinitely.
Traveling to another planet to explore, in a precursor to either inhabitation or mining, would be an even better use of this technology. I for one hope that world governments wake up (and that waking up is continigent upon public sentiment) and realize that right now is the time to radically advance our exploration of space.
Scythe