Re:Yes! - What About The Open Source Stuff..
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Delphi for Linux
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· Score: 1
I agree. While I run Linux at home, and I perfer coding under C/C++, at work I write custom DB applications in VB (with COM/DCOM Server backends written in C++) and I can say that while I am not a big fan of Basic as a language, I can get software out the door quicker, with fewer bugs under VB than if I was doing the front ends in C++.
I think people need to look at what Delphi is targeted for, which is custom DB apps, which typically are not released on a Wide-spread basis. But if the ability to rapidly deploy custom apps under Linux is there, a lot of companies will be much more inclined to use Linux other than server only.
You are not going to see apps such as Word Processors written in delphi I think.
I've talked to our CTO about using Open Source stuff, and he thinks linux is "cool" and OSS is definatly viable, but there are simply too many things which would have to be ported from Solaris.
That's the problem... There are many companies which might want to switch, but there are very uncertain paths of migration. I know for us, that at least our "core" environment would pretty much re-compile under Linux, and we use Sybase 11.5 for our database, but we also use OEC Entera for middleware (I think BEA Tuxedo would do that equivalent job under Linux), Rougueware tools, and quite a few C toolkits for various things.
Actually, the systems where I work are very heterogeneous, every developer uses what they want to get the job done (I have a linuxbox that I use for development, but I need to compile on one of our development Sun servers).
What would be nice to see would be some sort of migratory database, showing what apps and functions under different Unicies could be replicated under Linux and how.
I agree with Raymond, actually,I wrote an article to this same effect which was posted in March on Linuxpower.org. You can read the article at http://www.linuxpower.org/display_item.phtml?id=11 1 .
But there is no dispute that the Unix world is slowing unifying. And even as vendors like Sun and IBM try to beef up their own Unixen, they add features to them to make them more compatible with Linux (ie. Solaris runs Linux binaries
I don't think everyone should pat themselves on the back just yet though. There are so many companies relying on proprietary Unix systems with closed source tools (the company I work for uses Solaris exclusivly for everything except a few of our front end apps running in Windows). It will take much to move these companies over to linux.
I think that what Stewart is saying has some truth to it. But I think that he underestimates the intentions of Linux users and community, and also underestimates what Linux is to become.
Personally I use Linux for a couple reasons. I don't like the fact that I can configure my system to my needs, not needs determined by some focus group in another part of the world. I also like the powerful tools like perl/awk/bash scripts. It's an excellent development environment, and it's stable. I have moral reasons as well, in that I disagree that any company(ies) should have control over something as pervasive and globally important as the OS that most computers run. This is too much power in the hands of too few.
That said, I already have a machine that I run NetBSD on, because it's nice to tinker with something that is a little more obscure and "ubergeek". This is just the pure geek in me, the same one who wanted to play with all styles of BBS' when BBS' were THE BIG THING, the same geek that spent his march break in G9 teaching himself the basics of C. I like a challange, and I strive to learn more, which is one reason I like Linux, but is not the only reason.
I think there are a lot of people out there like me. People who in another year or two might start using other OS' besides Linux, but like me who will keep their primary linux machine for most uses, and have other "play" machines.
I live in Canada, but I feel that the issue still applies to us here. I think that you may be heavily over-reacting to the issue here. I mean, even now it's relativly easy to find personal info on other people if you know where to look. I mean, when you stop to consider it, does anyone really have privacy? Should we not be more concerned with WHAT this information is being used for?I for one would rather have a society where we KNOW we have no privacy, and can act accordingly, than one where we are nieve(sp) about privacy and take it for granted.
I also think that the louder we all scream about privacy, the more certain people will be inclined to find out WHY we are so worried about them knowing what we are doing.
Of course, my views and the views of readers in the US may differ simply becuase Canadians are more concerned with the rights of the many than the rights of the one (not saying either is different, it's simply a slight difference).
All that said, the trend towards massive stockpiles of information does make one consider how this information could be used in an unfriendly manner and who controls this information?
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I agree. While I run Linux at home, and I perfer coding under C/C++, at work I write custom DB applications in VB (with COM/DCOM Server backends written in C++) and I can say that while I am not a big fan of Basic as a language, I can get software out the door quicker, with fewer bugs under VB than if I was doing the front ends in C++.
I think people need to look at what Delphi is targeted for, which is custom DB apps, which typically are not released on a Wide-spread basis. But if the ability to rapidly deploy custom apps under Linux is there, a lot of companies will be much more inclined to use Linux other than server only.
You are not going to see apps such as Word Processors written in delphi I think.
I've talked to our CTO about using Open Source stuff, and he thinks linux is "cool" and OSS is definatly viable, but there are simply too many things which would have to be ported from Solaris.
That's the problem... There are many companies which might want to switch, but there are very uncertain paths of migration. I know for us, that at least our "core" environment would pretty much re-compile under Linux, and we use Sybase 11.5 for our database, but we also use OEC Entera for middleware (I think BEA Tuxedo would do that equivalent job under Linux), Rougueware tools, and quite a few C toolkits for various things.
Actually, the systems where I work are very heterogeneous, every developer uses what they want to get the job done (I have a linuxbox that I use for development, but I need to compile on one of our development Sun servers).
What would be nice to see would be some sort of migratory database, showing what apps and functions under different Unicies could be replicated under Linux and how.
Uhm, a little charity might be invloved here :) If I agree with ERS, then the above should be taken in that context.
I mean that the unix world will unify, whether it is slow or fast (but really, speed is a relative matter in this case)
I agree with Raymond, actually,I wrote an article to this same effect which was posted in March on Linuxpower.org. You can read the article at http://www.linuxpower.org/display_item.phtml?id=11 1 .
But there is no dispute that the Unix world is slowing unifying. And even as vendors like Sun and IBM try to beef up their own Unixen, they add features to them to make them more compatible with Linux (ie. Solaris runs Linux binaries
I don't think everyone should pat themselves on the back just yet though. There are so many companies relying on proprietary Unix systems with closed source tools (the company I work for uses Solaris exclusivly for everything except a few of our front end apps running in Windows). It will take much to move these companies over to linux.
I think that what Stewart is saying has some truth to it. But I think that he underestimates the intentions of Linux users and community, and also underestimates what Linux is to become.
Personally I use Linux for a couple reasons. I don't like the fact that I can configure my system to my needs, not needs determined by some focus group in another part of the world. I also like the powerful tools like perl/awk/bash scripts. It's an excellent development environment, and it's stable. I have moral reasons as well, in that I disagree that any company(ies) should have control over something as pervasive and globally important as the OS that most computers run. This is too much power in the hands of too few.
That said, I already have a machine that I run NetBSD on, because it's nice to tinker with something that is a little more obscure and "ubergeek". This is just the pure geek in me, the same one who wanted to play with all styles of BBS' when BBS' were THE BIG THING, the same geek that spent his march break in G9 teaching himself the basics of C. I like a challange, and I strive to learn more, which is one reason I like Linux, but is not the only reason.
I think there are a lot of people out there like me. People who in another year or two might start using other OS' besides Linux, but like me who will keep their primary linux machine for most uses, and have other "play" machines.
I live in Canada, but I feel that the issue still applies to us here. I think that you may be heavily over-reacting to the issue here. I mean, even now it's relativly easy to find personal info on other people if you know where to look. I mean, when you stop to consider it, does anyone really have privacy? Should we not be more concerned with WHAT this information is being used for?I for one would rather have a society where we KNOW we have no privacy, and can act accordingly, than one where we are nieve(sp) about privacy and take it for granted.
I also think that the louder we all scream about privacy, the more certain people will be inclined to find out WHY we are so worried about them knowing what we are doing.
Of course, my views and the views of readers in the US may differ simply becuase Canadians are more concerned with the rights of the many than the rights of the one (not saying either is different, it's simply a slight difference).
All that said, the trend towards massive stockpiles of information does make one consider how this information could be used in an unfriendly manner and who controls this information?