The defeat of the algorithms, which were weak because they were designed to meet U.S. and Japanese export controls, makes it possible to build an open-source DVD player that the DVD Forum can't disable, he said.
Is there a source of information on what are Japanese export controls on cryptographic technology?
Having profitably worked exclusively in Java since early 1997, I beg to differ with your impression of it.
First of all, Java comprises a whole spectrum of technologies, from a processor specification to a programming language. We shipped products written for the Java processor specification largely written in Java assembler, for example. The project is very ambitious, and thus results in some of the problems you see with Java technologies. When people change their focus from "language" to "platform" then Java makes much more sense. We ship the same code running without changes on anything from Palm V to HP/UX mainframes.
(As a small aside, Microsoft's marketing continually hammers the "Java is a language" mantra among corporate types in an effort to lock them in NT/Visual tools/DCOM/etc. I've been to many of those meetings at several companies worldwide, playing Java's advocate. I wouldn't be surprised if this study was paid by Microsoft to position Java at the same level as VB with some disadvantages, not as an alternative platform to Windows)
2) Java, being wholly OO, is a lot harder to learn for the person that has programmed C for twenty years.
Java is far from being "wholly OO". The language suffers from the same problems that C++ has in the OO department, just far less. Both Java and C++ are hybrid programming languages; the inclusion of stoopid primitive types in high-level object definitions is a no-no. Granted, Java is more OO than C++ because it enforces the paradigm far better, but it's far from "wholly OO." You should use Smalltalk for wholly OO.
3) It's a slow, clunky, badly designed, interpreted, overrated, security-conscious, bug-ridden piece of shit.
One at a time. Slow: Yes, in general is slower than executable code but not slower than PERL once the JVM and needed classes are in memory. I'll be happy to tell you how to improve performance. Clunky: C++ is a lot clunkier. At least Java enforces one programming paradigm (for the record I've written a C++ compiler and I programmed in C++ for many years, probably since before most of you even knew what C++ was). Badly designed: That's just flamebait. Interpreted: Hm... define interpreted. P-code running on a VM hardly qualifies as interpreted. Scripted languages are interpreted; Java is not such. Again, go to Java assembler if you don't believe this. Overrated: Er, I'd say overhyped. Security-conscious: At least there is a security model associated with the class library. C++ still doesn't have a standard class library (don't moan about STL; templates are a bandaid on poor design. C++ should've had a class library out of the gate. Dr. Stroustrup knew better), much less a security model associated with it. Bug-ridden: Depends on the implementation.
JDBC problems usually have to do with the database vendors, not with Java. Vendors must write the driver managers for JDBC, which only acts as a conduit for moving result sets between the Java address space and the database. If JDBC is failing for "no reason" then it's either your application or your driver manager, not JDBC itself. As for Java running on NT -- NT sucks, regardless of whether it runs Java, C++, C, or BASIC code! I'll be happy to assist in troubleshooting your Java application. Drop me a note.
Any government involvement in our industry would be detrimental to all of us. The best way to combat Microsoft is by letting market forces evolve.
Do you guys remember when IBM were the Bad Guys? Microsoft didn't require government intervention and controls to eat their lunch. Market forces take over sooner or later. And the government's stupid anti-trust action against IBM was dismissed anyway.
As formidable a threat as Microsoft seems, keep in mind that government action in any way threatens our freedom to innovate and to determine the course of our industry. How would any of us like bureaucrats dictating what code to write, who you can it be sold to? Keep all the encryption restrictions in mind. Now extend that to the rest of the industry. Bad news.
I may not be that familiar with the product line, but all it seems to be is a Palm III with an "e" following the designator and only 2 MB of memory. In other words, pure and simple repackaging of an existing product.
I am inclined to believe that if they'd come up with other case colors (red, yellow, green, etc.) and some games or something, they'd be more attractive for general consumers.
Back in college I conducted an experiment on mice ergonomics. We determined that right handed people using their mouse with the left hand were up to 30% more efficient than when they used their right hand. This had to do with being able to pull a menu down and clicking enter almost simultaneously, or faster data entry and navigation in spreadsheets (we used IBM PS/2 keyboards and Microsoft 2-button rats). Most people had a period of about 48 hours adjusting to using the mouse as lefties, but most never went back to using it with the right hand.
I've been using my mouse with the left hand since 1989. Then, sometime in the mid-1990's, Microsoft and Logitech introduced their hunchbacked mice. And I began developing what I think is CTS since. Does anyone know of any similar studies? Ours was college research for someone's thesis, so I doubt it was published widely, or publicized.
DISCLAIMER: I suffered a motorcycle accident in 1995, in which I broke the fall with my left hand. I also kickbox, and once in a while I've injured my hand, so I don't know if what I perceive is CTS or just the result of too many hormones and lack of common sense.
Just curious, but why do you call Python's OO support "so-so"?
Python seems to suffer the same problem as C++ when it comes to OO: It supports it but doesn't enforce it very strenously. Java is somewhat better, but you can still do Stoopid Things like defining pseudo-global public variables. Also, these languages support primitive types, which tend to be a no-no because they violate OO concepts by letting people write code that deals with them even in high-level objects.
I have nothing against Python as a language; I actually like it quite well compared to PERL. My point was OO and availability, not technical elegance. From this latter point of view, Python rocks!
What the heck is Java Assembler? Do You hack directly in the Bytecode?
Thnking of Java as 'interpreted' is somewhat wrong. Java actually runs on top of a virtual machine, just like Smalltalk, UCSD Pascal or the MVS operating system. There is a Java Machine Specification, that talks about machine instructions, op-codes, threads, etc.
One of the hottest markets for Java applications will probably be embedded systems. By coding in assembler, you gain about 35% (avg.) size advantage and significant speed (we haven't benchmarked this yet). These features are required--heck no, loved--by embedded system designers.
Once you start coding in Java assembler you can discover a lot of redundancy in the compiler/class files, and you can do away with it to gain the speed/size advantages. Finally, most assembler code can be tweaked against most decompilers without hurting readibility if you get the sources in assembler.
I ranted about business requirements in my original posting, above. There are a couple of companies we know of producing picoJava chips (microcontrollers) and Sun announced MAJC (*magic*), a Very Fast DSP-enhanced Java chip for consumer devices (RISC, 256 registers, *very high* clock speed). Now, imagine Java running on a machine based on this technology... And imagine that your code can run in a PC or a Palm V as well, without changes...
We use Jasmin for our assembler development and we're extremely satisfied. Our code runs on everything from a Palm V with Spotless to an HP/9000 mainframe without changes. Very Cool.
I'm a little worried about java. Its being pushed very hard by a big company. We've been down that road a few times before. Am I wrong to worry?
A company's great idea isn't necessarily evil just because it was originated there. What would all of us be doing if someone at AT&T Bell Labs hadn't thought "Hej, Brian, why don't you go check this MULTICS thing out?"? Hm...
At the end of the day, there is no Open Source object-oriented, portable, widely available programming language that has the same acceptance of Java. C++ is too complicated and doesn't enforce the OO paradigm well. Smalltalk? Too fragmented, though I'd much rather program in it than in Java if it were as widely available. PERL and Python are great, but so-so for OO (besides, if I wanted a language that resembles my other 10 favourite ones I'd program in Ada). That leaves Tcl... which could be a good option, but it also originated at The Big Company and hasn't had as much acceptance as Java.
(Before the flames start, I should let you know that I've been programming in C since 1984, C++ since late 1988, Smalltalk since 1990, assembler since 1983 and that I've delivered many products under all those languages including Java running on all kinds of hardware, from embedded to mainframes. So I'm not shy about using these tools when they make sense. In fact, we're currently developing a Big Project mostly in Java assembler because it makes business and technology sense)
Like UNIX and C, Java will probably grow out of Sun's tight control at some point in the future. Transvirtual is walking that path, and so are a few of us who want to separate good ideas from politics and make some money in the process.
I can't remember off the top of my head what the I was using as a processor.
If memory doesn't fail, it used a MosTech 6502 because The Two Steves didn't like the 8080 and they couldn't afford at 6800. The 6502 is somewhat similar to the 6800, and that was part of the reasoning behind it.
First a word of clarification: There is no such thing as a DSL modem, just like there isn't such thing as an ISDN modem. The correct name is ATU/R or Adaptive Transceiver Unit/Remote.
The G.lite DSL article misses the most critical point regarding DSL: Availability and quality of service within the subscriber's area. We've used Rythms Net Connections (mentioned in the article also) ADSL for roughly a year (very happily) and we found that the ATU/R was the least of our worries. The real problem was dealing with Pacific Bell, our local carrier.
When we first requested DSL we had to wait until Pacific Bell installed the physical line, by far the biggest hurdle. Essentially, the telco must add a pair of wires to the local MPOE (minimum point of entry) to access the physical network. That installation took about a month. Installation of the ATU/R by Rythms technicians, including configuration (physical, IP,etc.) of all my Linux and Winblows boxes (6) took about 1 hour at no additional cost. This including laying the wires.
Over the year we experienced a number of outtages thanks to PacBell's ineptitude. We've been able to trace line problems to them 99% of the time, the most recent one took us off-line for 36 hours because some Dumb Ass technician disconnected our DSL line "because he didn't hear a dial tone."
Other problems included PacBell's reluctance to support anything other than Winblows or Mac and their condescending attitude, and their insistence on providing the NIC, hub, and ATU/R even if you already have the equipment (I had to install PacBell's ADSL at one of my developer's home and Rythms et. al. didn't service his area [Belmont, CA]). I won't even go into how hard it was for them to understand that my developer uses a laptop, thus his NIC is actually a PCMCIA card...
Our advise when installing DSL: Get your service, if you can, from someone other than your local telco. Third party providers tend to be more expensive, but they provide 7x24 support, including hardware replacement, and at least 7 IP addresses per contract. We run a full development lab on 644 kbps ADSL without problems, and we're very happy.
As for the ATU/R itself: We have a Paradyne Hotwire model 5446. It survived a surge PacBell sent up our DSL line without trouble.
You're correct. We figured that if someone took the trouble of learning enough Java processor op codes and/or microcode they are probably spending as much time or longer figuring out what we did than if they just develop the thing themselves.
I was actually talking about the kJava VM, not about the language. The language is far superior to C++ but it doesn't come close to Smalltalk yet. The Java language is still a bastardized OOP language, and it shows.
That's why 30% of our production code is written in Java assembler. No stinkin' needless initializations in constructors, no static initializers if you know what you're doing, and the ability to defeat most attempts at decompilation by using instructions (i.e. jsr) not implemented by the Java compilers.
Based on very... slow... Java... VMs... I've seen... and on the performance I get from other non-Java Palm Pilot apps, kJava VM rocks!
As far as we could find out, the only place where you can find it (this week) is the 3Com/Sun booth at JavaOne.
We're trying to figure out how to load new classes into the Palm V but we haven't yet (we're not trying really hard either; we're not supposed to be testing on hand-helds until next week but our hacking instincts are too strong...)
while (company.isMakingMoney()) { company.setCustomersFrom(World.getInterestingProje cts()); while (company.hasCustomer()) { customer = company.getCustomer(); switch (customer.getType()) { case E_COMMERCE : case FINANCE : case MEDIA : Sun.tell(customer); company.setResources(Sun.getResources()); break; } } } }
(sorry about the indents; I can't figure out how to add them and I must get back to work)
Great performance optimizations are attained if the customers are running Windows and Java is chosen instead of other technologies. More optimizations come from customer.isInfoApplianceMfgr() == true.
We implemented a similar loop for Linux. That loop, though, is event triggered: We tend to listen more than we tend to proactively look for. Tonite we get to meet Linus at the BALUG gathering. Cool! Bill Joy Monday, Linus on Tuesday... We have yet to implement the Apple, Oracle, and Red Hat loops and the and other event handlers (it would be cool if we kept up with Steve Jobs on Wed., Larry on Thu...) but the Microsoft dump keeps our cron and Java daemon threads very busy.
Quote: if I were a normal consumer, the relatively small number of Personal Java applications doesn't justify the resource consumption of the VM.
I was pleasantly surprised at the small footprint that KJVM has in comparison with other JVM's we're evaluating from other vendors (i.e. Jeode under Wince). Check out my posting below under subject I have a Palm V with KJava! for a somewhat detailed list of things I found in the pre-loaded Palm V available at JavaOne.
I was invited to Sun's ConsumerOne event yesterday as a Java software provider. At the end of the event, all the participants were given a Palm V with kJava and the JavaOne event schedule pre-loaded.
Our company develops industrial-strength Java code, and we've been working with all kinds of JVMs, from embedded devices to HP/UX passing through Linux, Solaris, Mac, and (yuk!) all Winblows flavours including CE. We're currently evaluating non-desktop JVMs and we'll probably focus on two: KJava, the one in the Palm V, and Jeode from Insignia.
So far, after having played with the Palm V for only 3 hours, I can say this: kJava rocks! Here are the specifications reported by the Palm V info:
KJava VM 114 KB
Java One applet: 24 KB
Pong 8KB
Sun 3D demo 10KB
Other games (7 more): 85KB
Preloaded Java classes:
java.lang.* (seems to include only those classes currently in use from the lang package; if a program needs additional classes [i.e. java.lang.Boolean] they will be loaded on demand)
java.io.*
java.net.*
com.sun.kjava.Spotlet
com.sun.kjava.Graphics
com.sun.kjava.Bitmap
com.sun.kjava.Database
com.sun.kjava.Button
com.sun.kjava.Trigonometric
com.sun.kjava.ValueSelector
com.sun.kjava.Caret
com.sun.kjava.Caret
com.sun.kjava.CheckBox
com.sun.kjava.Dialog
com.sun.kjava.DialogOwner
com.sun.kjava.HelpDisplay
com.sun.kjava.IntVector
com.sun.kjava.List
com.sun.kjava.RadioButton
com.sun.kjava.RadioGroup
com.sun.kjava.ScrollOwner
com.sun.kjava.ScrollTextBox
com.sun.kjava.Slider
com.sun.kjava.TextField
com.sun.kjava.TextBox
com.sun.kjava.VerticalScrollBar
Each Java class can be loaded or removed on demand, and its memory usage can be checked on a per-class basis. There seems to be no performance difference between the Java applications and the other Pilot goodies; in fact, some of the games can be played faster than the stylus or the human eyes can catch with them.
If anyone here is interested, I'll write a review of KJava in the Palm V after we run our compatibility and performance tests on it. A large number of classes in our products are written in Java assembler, so this will be a great chance to check if Sun/3Com are keeping the JVM specification honest.
F-Secure SSH supports port forwarding but I haven't quite figured out how to forward my FTP connections through the F-Secure SSH to my WS_FTP client. Is this possible? If so, is there a HOW-TO anywhere?
Unfortunately no. Microsoft's one and only goal is to prevent you and me from building any software that doesn't earn them money. They want us to develop for Windows or not develop at all. This is hardly a position I would be trying to support.
I never said anything about supporting Microsoft. All I ever said, in this and other postings, is that we waste too much time complaining and rearranging Microsoft's future. Use that energy for something constructive.
As for coding for Windows or not, Linux is living proof that we don't have to do that.
For the record, most of my customers were Microsoft to the bone. I managed to steer them toward Java/Solaris, Java/Linux, Java/Windows (clients) or some permutation of these successfully. It all depended on a simple truism:
We proved that the technology, business model, users' level of service expectation, and support infrastructure were the same or better than Microsoft's or legacy (mainframe) solutions.
As for Microsoft's goal, I think it's pretty clear: Make money no matter what. If embracing Linux makes them money, they will. That's why I think it's so important that we stop wasting time complaining about the evil empire and create useful, fun products for Linux. We can then raise the bar higher and make it harder for them to compete. I think the current state of the Internet server market is a good yard stick: Linux-based systems outperform Microsoft's in every way. These Linux solutions exist thanks to people who aimed at doing the right thing the right way, not at destroying a successful company.
It's sad seeing how very free Stallman feels to dispose of others' property. It's even sadder reading his ever-present GNU/Linux label. It's worse seeing someone actually thinks he's right in disposing of others' property.
Why is it that hard to accept the notion of a free market? Let Microsoft fight it out in its terms, and we'll fight on our own. Linux is doing excellently (can you honestly imagine all the mainstream press even a year ago? Did you ever imagine Microsoft admitting Linux poses a threat to them?) and it's poised to capture much larger mindshare and marketshare.
Can't we just stop wasting time rebuilding Microsoft or its products, and focus instead on making better (and more user-friendly) software? Can't we stop wasting electrons arguing about GNU/Linux vs. Linux vs. Microsoft vs. Red Hat vs. whatever?
So what's the big deal? AWT, Swing, and all the other good other Java stuff isn't ready.
I wish people abstained from posting comments claiming "X it's finally here!" when X is not even in alpha. A better heading would be "X is looking for volunteers to complete it!" or something of that sort.
I fully agree with your comments. Let the marketplace, free flow of ideas, and quality speak for what works and what doesn't.
The marketplace is a wonderful, Darwinian model. Let products, services, etc. flourish. Only the best ones will survive.
Keep in mind that best can mean a lot of things. WordPerfect has always been a crappy word processor. Yet it had the best customer support and that made it the best-selling program in its class until Microsoft came up with a better one.
Eugene Your mind is your only judge of truth--and if others dissent from your verdict, reality is the court of final appeal. -- Ayn Rand
Oh, well... The anti-trust laws are an insult to the free market. While I may not like Microsoft's policies, nobody forces me to buy their products. I use Linux for my servers because it's better. I use Microsoft products when they enable me make money. I use a Macintosh for my personal stuff. I don't like the company, but I dislike the parasites who want to break it even less. Let the free market forces act!
Interesting, how anti-trust laws penalize those who are successful. Is success in the scale of Microsoft's a crime?
I agree with most of the points in this review. Microsoft and Bill Gates are certainly arrogant, and their products and services are not the most technologically advanced, and this reflects in the company's policies. I don't like Microsoft's policies but I certainly respect them. Keep in mind that Microsoft and Bill Gates have always stood for creating value for their company through the sale products and services for personal computers and they're very good at it. Technological excellence is not their goal--that's the Linux/Open Source goal. The Microsoft folks aren't doing anything wrong from their point of view.
Personally I find Microsoft a great challenge, and that motivates me and the people who work with and for me to be smarter and to work harder at finding a niche where we can beat them. Who knows? We may even win. We try not to waste any time on whining about Big Bad Bill. That energy is better employed on other things.
Finally, I have a problem with point 8 in the essay. Why is it that so many people feel so free to give other people's money or things away?
What Mr. Gates wants to do with his money is his business. Nobody has to right to tell him what to do with it.
Slashdot Mirror
The CNN article reads:
The defeat of the algorithms, which were weak because they were designed to meet U.S. and Japanese export controls, makes it possible to build an open-source DVD player that the DVD Forum can't disable, he said.
Is there a source of information on what are Japanese export controls on cryptographic technology?
Thanks!
EFirst!
Hi, Everyone!
Two quick requests, if possible:
Thanks!
EHaving profitably worked exclusively in Java since early 1997, I beg to differ with your impression of it.
First of all, Java comprises a whole spectrum of technologies, from a processor specification to a programming language. We shipped products written for the Java processor specification largely written in Java assembler, for example. The project is very ambitious, and thus results in some of the problems you see with Java technologies. When people change their focus from "language" to "platform" then Java makes much more sense. We ship the same code running without changes on anything from Palm V to HP/UX mainframes.
(As a small aside, Microsoft's marketing continually hammers the "Java is a language" mantra among corporate types in an effort to lock them in NT/Visual tools/DCOM/etc. I've been to many of those meetings at several companies worldwide, playing Java's advocate. I wouldn't be surprised if this study was paid by Microsoft to position Java at the same level as VB with some disadvantages, not as an alternative platform to Windows)
2) Java, being wholly OO, is a lot harder to learn for the person that has programmed C for twenty years.
Java is far from being "wholly OO". The language suffers from the same problems that C++ has in the OO department, just far less. Both Java and C++ are hybrid programming languages; the inclusion of stoopid primitive types in high-level object definitions is a no-no. Granted, Java is more OO than C++ because it enforces the paradigm far better, but it's far from "wholly OO." You should use Smalltalk for wholly OO.
3) It's a slow, clunky, badly designed, interpreted, overrated, security-conscious, bug-ridden piece of shit.
One at a time. Slow: Yes, in general is slower than executable code but not slower than PERL once the JVM and needed classes are in memory. I'll be happy to tell you how to improve performance. Clunky: C++ is a lot clunkier. At least Java enforces one programming paradigm (for the record I've written a C++ compiler and I programmed in C++ for many years, probably since before most of you even knew what C++ was). Badly designed: That's just flamebait. Interpreted: Hm... define interpreted. P-code running on a VM hardly qualifies as interpreted. Scripted languages are interpreted; Java is not such. Again, go to Java assembler if you don't believe this. Overrated: Er, I'd say overhyped. Security-conscious: At least there is a security model associated with the class library. C++ still doesn't have a standard class library (don't moan about STL; templates are a bandaid on poor design. C++ should've had a class library out of the gate. Dr. Stroustrup knew better), much less a security model associated with it. Bug-ridden: Depends on the implementation.
JDBC problems usually have to do with the database vendors, not with Java. Vendors must write the driver managers for JDBC, which only acts as a conduit for moving result sets between the Java address space and the database. If JDBC is failing for "no reason" then it's either your application or your driver manager, not JDBC itself. As for Java running on NT -- NT sucks, regardless of whether it runs Java, C++, C, or BASIC code! I'll be happy to assist in troubleshooting your Java application. Drop me a note.
Cheers!
EAny government involvement in our industry would be detrimental to all of us. The best way to combat Microsoft is by letting market forces evolve.
Do you guys remember when IBM were the Bad Guys? Microsoft didn't require government intervention and controls to eat their lunch. Market forces take over sooner or later. And the government's stupid anti-trust action against IBM was dismissed anyway.
As formidable a threat as Microsoft seems, keep in mind that government action in any way threatens our freedom to innovate and to determine the course of our industry. How would any of us like bureaucrats dictating what code to write, who you can it be sold to? Keep all the encryption restrictions in mind. Now extend that to the rest of the industry. Bad news.
EugeneI may not be that familiar with the product line, but all it seems to be is a Palm III with an "e" following the designator and only 2 MB of memory. In other words, pure and simple repackaging of an existing product.
I am inclined to believe that if they'd come up with other case colors (red, yellow, green, etc.) and some games or something, they'd be more attractive for general consumers.
Cheers!
EBack in college I conducted an experiment on mice ergonomics. We determined that right handed people using their mouse with the left hand were up to 30% more efficient than when they used their right hand. This had to do with being able to pull a menu down and clicking enter almost simultaneously, or faster data entry and navigation in spreadsheets (we used IBM PS/2 keyboards and Microsoft 2-button rats). Most people had a period of about 48 hours adjusting to using the mouse as lefties, but most never went back to using it with the right hand.
I've been using my mouse with the left hand since 1989. Then, sometime in the mid-1990's, Microsoft and Logitech introduced their hunchbacked mice. And I began developing what I think is CTS since. Does anyone know of any similar studies? Ours was college research for someone's thesis, so I doubt it was published widely, or publicized.
DISCLAIMER: I suffered a motorcycle accident in 1995, in which I broke the fall with my left hand. I also kickbox, and once in a while I've injured my hand, so I don't know if what I perceive is CTS or just the result of too many hormones and lack of common sense.
Cheers!
EugenePython seems to suffer the same problem as C++ when it comes to OO: It supports it but doesn't enforce it very strenously. Java is somewhat better, but you can still do Stoopid Things like defining pseudo-global public variables. Also, these languages support primitive types, which tend to be a no-no because they violate OO concepts by letting people write code that deals with them even in high-level objects.
I have nothing against Python as a language; I actually like it quite well compared to PERL. My point was OO and availability, not technical elegance. From this latter point of view, Python rocks!
Cheers!
EugeneThnking of Java as 'interpreted' is somewhat wrong. Java actually runs on top of a virtual machine, just like Smalltalk, UCSD Pascal or the MVS operating system. There is a Java Machine Specification, that talks about machine instructions, op-codes, threads, etc.
One of the hottest markets for Java applications will probably be embedded systems. By coding in assembler, you gain about 35% (avg.) size advantage and significant speed (we haven't benchmarked this yet). These features are required--heck no, loved--by embedded system designers.
Once you start coding in Java assembler you can discover a lot of redundancy in the compiler/class files, and you can do away with it to gain the speed/size advantages. Finally, most assembler code can be tweaked against most decompilers without hurting readibility if you get the sources in assembler.
I ranted about business requirements in my original posting, above. There are a couple of companies we know of producing picoJava chips (microcontrollers) and Sun announced MAJC (*magic*), a Very Fast DSP-enhanced Java chip for consumer devices (RISC, 256 registers, *very high* clock speed). Now, imagine Java running on a machine based on this technology... And imagine that your code can run in a PC or a Palm V as well, without changes...
We use Jasmin for our assembler development and we're extremely satisfied. Our code runs on everything from a Palm V with Spotless to an HP/9000 mainframe without changes. Very Cool.
Cheers!
EugeneIts being pushed very hard by a big company.
We've been down that road a few times before.
Am I wrong to worry?
A company's great idea isn't necessarily evil just because it was originated there. What would all of us be doing if someone at AT&T Bell Labs hadn't thought "Hej, Brian, why don't you go check this MULTICS thing out?"? Hm...
At the end of the day, there is no Open Source object-oriented, portable, widely available programming language that has the same acceptance of Java. C++ is too complicated and doesn't enforce the OO paradigm well. Smalltalk? Too fragmented, though I'd much rather program in it than in Java if it were as widely available. PERL and Python are great, but so-so for OO (besides, if I wanted a language that resembles my other 10 favourite ones I'd program in Ada). That leaves Tcl... which could be a good option, but it also originated at The Big Company and hasn't had as much acceptance as Java.
(Before the flames start, I should let you know that I've been programming in C since 1984, C++ since late 1988, Smalltalk since 1990, assembler since 1983 and that I've delivered many products under all those languages including Java running on all kinds of hardware, from embedded to mainframes. So I'm not shy about using these tools when they make sense. In fact, we're currently developing a Big Project mostly in Java assembler because it makes business and technology sense)
Like UNIX and C, Java will probably grow out of Sun's tight control at some point in the future. Transvirtual is walking that path, and so are a few of us who want to separate good ideas from politics and make some money in the process.
Cheers!
EugeneI can't remember off the top of my head what the I was using as a processor.
If memory doesn't fail, it used a MosTech 6502 because The Two Steves didn't like the 8080 and they couldn't afford at 6800. The 6502 is somewhat similar to the 6800, and that was part of the reasoning behind it.
E
First a word of clarification: There is no such thing as a DSL modem, just like there isn't such thing as an ISDN modem. The correct name is ATU/R or Adaptive Transceiver Unit/Remote.
The G.lite DSL article misses the most critical point regarding DSL: Availability and quality of service within the subscriber's area. We've used Rythms Net Connections (mentioned in the article also) ADSL for roughly a year (very happily) and we found that the ATU/R was the least of our worries. The real problem was dealing with Pacific Bell, our local carrier.
When we first requested DSL we had to wait until Pacific Bell installed the physical line, by far the biggest hurdle. Essentially, the telco must add a pair of wires to the local MPOE (minimum point of entry) to access the physical network. That installation took about a month. Installation of the ATU/R by Rythms technicians, including configuration (physical, IP,etc.) of all my Linux and Winblows boxes (6) took about 1 hour at no additional cost. This including laying the wires.
Over the year we experienced a number of outtages thanks to PacBell's ineptitude. We've been able to trace line problems to them 99% of the time, the most recent one took us off-line for 36 hours because some Dumb Ass technician disconnected our DSL line "because he didn't hear a dial tone."
Other problems included PacBell's reluctance to support anything other than Winblows or Mac and their condescending attitude, and their insistence on providing the NIC, hub, and ATU/R even if you already have the equipment (I had to install PacBell's ADSL at one of my developer's home and Rythms et. al. didn't service his area [Belmont, CA]). I won't even go into how hard it was for them to understand that my developer uses a laptop, thus his NIC is actually a PCMCIA card...
Our advise when installing DSL: Get your service, if you can, from someone other than your local telco. Third party providers tend to be more expensive, but they provide 7x24 support, including hardware replacement, and at least 7 IP addresses per contract. We run a full development lab on 644 kbps ADSL without problems, and we're very happy.
As for the ATU/R itself: We have a Paradyne Hotwire model 5446. It survived a surge PacBell sent up our DSL line without trouble.
You're correct. We figured that if someone took the trouble of learning enough Java processor op codes and/or microcode they are probably spending as much time or longer figuring out what we did than if they just develop the thing themselves.
E
I was actually talking about the kJava VM, not about the language. The language is far superior to C++ but it doesn't come close to Smalltalk yet. The Java language is still a bastardized OOP language, and it shows.
That's why 30% of our production code is written in Java assembler. No stinkin' needless initializations in constructors, no static initializers if you know what you're doing, and the ability to defeat most attempts at decompilation by using instructions (i.e. jsr) not implemented by the Java compilers.
Based on very... slow... Java... VMs... I've seen... and on the performance I get from other non-Java Palm Pilot apps, kJava VM rocks!
Cheers!
Eugene
As far as we could find out, the only place where you can find it (this week) is the 3Com/Sun booth at JavaOne.
We're trying to figure out how to load new classes into the Palm V but we haven't yet (we're not trying really hard either; we're not supposed to be testing on hand-helds until next week but our hacking instincts are too strong...)
Quote:
e cts());
::wink::
"Or better yet... tell us how to get invited to those ConsumerOne events!"
Eugene's find out about cool events algorithm
while (eugene.isAlive()) {
if (currentJob.sucks())
company.shoveUpAss(currentJob);
company = new StartUp(eugene, friends, venture);
company.setTechnologies(Computing.Java, Computing.Linux, Computing.Solaris);
while (company.isMakingMoney()) {
company.setCustomersFrom(World.getInterestingProj
while (company.hasCustomer()) {
customer = company.getCustomer();
switch (customer.getType()) {
case E_COMMERCE :
case FINANCE :
case MEDIA : Sun.tell(customer);
company.setResources(Sun.getResources());
break;
}
}
}
}
(sorry about the indents; I can't figure out how to add them and I must get back to work)
Great performance optimizations are attained if the customers are running Windows and Java is chosen instead of other technologies. More optimizations come from customer.isInfoApplianceMfgr() == true.
We implemented a similar loop for Linux. That loop, though, is event triggered: We tend to listen more than we tend to proactively look for. Tonite we get to meet Linus at the BALUG gathering. Cool! Bill Joy Monday, Linus on Tuesday... We have yet to implement the Apple, Oracle, and Red Hat loops and the and other event handlers (it would be cool if we kept up with Steve Jobs on Wed., Larry on Thu...) but the Microsoft dump keeps our cron and Java daemon threads very busy.
I hope the algorithm helps
Cheers!
Eugene
Quote:
if I were a normal consumer, the relatively small number of Personal Java applications doesn't justify the resource consumption of the VM.
I was pleasantly surprised at the small footprint that KJVM has in comparison with other JVM's we're evaluating from other vendors (i.e. Jeode under Wince). Check out my posting below under subject I have a Palm V with KJava! for a somewhat detailed list of things I found in the pre-loaded Palm V available at JavaOne.
Cheers!
EugeneI was invited to Sun's ConsumerOne event yesterday as a Java software provider. At the end of the event, all the participants were given a Palm V with kJava and the JavaOne event schedule pre-loaded.
Our company develops industrial-strength Java code, and we've been working with all kinds of JVMs, from embedded devices to HP/UX passing through Linux, Solaris, Mac, and (yuk!) all Winblows flavours including CE. We're currently evaluating non-desktop JVMs and we'll probably focus on two: KJava, the one in the Palm V, and Jeode from Insignia.
So far, after having played with the Palm V for only 3 hours, I can say this: kJava rocks! Here are the specifications reported by the Palm V info:
Preloaded Java classes:
Each Java class can be loaded or removed on demand, and its memory usage can be checked on a per-class basis. There seems to be no performance difference between the Java applications and the other Pilot goodies; in fact, some of the games can be played faster than the stylus or the human eyes can catch with them.
If anyone here is interested, I'll write a review of KJava in the Palm V after we run our compatibility and performance tests on it. A large number of classes in our products are written in Java assembler, so this will be a great chance to check if Sun/3Com are keeping the JVM specification honest.
Cheers!
EugeneI would like to expand on this question.
F-Secure SSH supports port forwarding but I haven't quite figured out how to forward my FTP connections through the F-Secure SSH to my WS_FTP client. Is this possible? If so, is there a HOW-TO anywhere?
Thanks in advance!
EugeneI never said anything about supporting Microsoft. All I ever said, in this and other postings, is that we waste too much time complaining and rearranging Microsoft's future. Use that energy for something constructive.
As for coding for Windows or not, Linux is living proof that we don't have to do that.
For the record, most of my customers were Microsoft to the bone. I managed to steer them toward Java/Solaris, Java/Linux, Java/Windows (clients) or some permutation of these successfully. It all depended on a simple truism:
We proved that the technology, business model, users' level of service expectation, and support infrastructure were the same or better than Microsoft's or legacy (mainframe) solutions.
As for Microsoft's goal, I think it's pretty clear: Make money no matter what. If embracing Linux makes them money, they will. That's why I think it's so important that we stop wasting time complaining about the evil empire and create useful, fun products for Linux. We can then raise the bar higher and make it harder for them to compete. I think the current state of the Internet server market is a good yard stick: Linux-based systems outperform Microsoft's in every way. These Linux solutions exist thanks to people who aimed at doing the right thing the right way, not at destroying a successful company.
E
Why is it that hard to accept the notion of a free market? Let Microsoft fight it out in its terms, and we'll fight on our own. Linux is doing excellently (can you honestly imagine all the mainstream press even a year ago? Did you ever imagine Microsoft admitting Linux poses a threat to them?) and it's poised to capture much larger mindshare and marketshare.
Can't we just stop wasting time rebuilding Microsoft or its products, and focus instead on making better (and more user-friendly) software? Can't we stop wasting electrons arguing about GNU/Linux vs. Linux vs. Microsoft vs. Red Hat vs. whatever?
Have a great weekend!
E
I wish people abstained from posting comments claiming "X it's finally here!" when X is not even in alpha. A better heading would be "X is looking for volunteers to complete it!" or something of that sort.
E
The marketplace is a wonderful, Darwinian model. Let products, services, etc. flourish. Only the best ones will survive.
Keep in mind that best can mean a lot of things. WordPerfect has always been a crappy word processor. Yet it had the best customer support and that made it the best-selling program in its class until Microsoft came up with a better one.
Eugene
Your mind is your only judge of truth--and if others dissent from your verdict, reality is the court of final appeal. -- Ayn Rand
Interesting, how anti-trust laws penalize those who are successful. Is success in the scale of Microsoft's a crime?
Gravity is my enemy and my friend. -- E. Sakumoto
Eugene
Personally I find Microsoft a great challenge, and that motivates me and the people who work with and for me to be smarter and to work harder at finding a niche where we can beat them. Who knows? We may even win. We try not to waste any time on whining about Big Bad Bill. That energy is better employed on other things.
Finally, I have a problem with point 8 in the essay. Why is it that so many people feel so free to give other people's money or things away?
What Mr. Gates wants to do with his money is his business. Nobody has to right to tell him what to do with it.
Eugene