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On Mon, 22 Sep 2014 12:58:46 -0500 |
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Barry Schwartz <chemoelectric@×××××××××××××.org> wrote: |
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> ‘Diversity’ here is deviation from established Unix/POSIX philosophy |
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> in system design. Years of effort to simplify programming are being |
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> thrown away on grounds that resemble common arguments in favor of the |
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> ‘tight integration’ that is Microsoft Windows. I mean, seriously, many |
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> of the pro-systemd arguments are like those I have heard for using |
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> Windows: that applications ‘just work’, because they were written for |
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> a dominant system. |
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> |
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Good design is highly flexible and configurable with little assumption |
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made on the nature or needs of the user. |
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Let's consider a simple program to display digital images. A good program |
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design will not only contain built-in routines to accommodate the standard |
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image formats but will also provide non-specific raster buffers to allow |
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a user to view unconventional or even non-existent formats. A good program |
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design will also make no assumptions about the nature of the image data but |
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rather allow the user to create any needed specifications. A professional |
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program thus allows both standard conventions but keeps the overall capability |
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unrestricted and open ended. |
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As best as I can understand (I am not an expert in systems programming) |
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under Torvalds the Linux OS conforms to such professional design goals. |
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> |
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> What I really fear, though, is what if one day the kernel team is a |
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> different entity, more like other entities in the Linux world? |
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Someone has to write an apocalyptic novel about Linus Torvalds being |
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assassinated and his role taken over by the evil figures from ???. |