Looking for a device programmer that doesn't require Weendoze

From: Sean 'Captain Napalm' Conner <spc_at_conman.org>
Date: Sun Mar 21 12:02:08 2004

It was thus said that the Great J.C. Wren once stated:
>
> What the need to do is provide a common programming API, and let
> third parties develop the UI software. That way, they'd get support
> across more OS's, you could use the same UI on different models, and
> they still can keep their programming algorithms proprietary. I once
> wrote an open letter to BP, Needhams, DataIO and Tribal about this.
> They could have focussed their efforts on devices and algorithms and
> hardware, where their expertice is, not in Windows requirements, or DOS
> weirdness, etc.

  Won't happen unless there is a *lot* of pressure from customers. A *lot*.
If such a thing did happen, then why should I stick with DataIO? Or Tribal?
That means these companies will actually have to *gasp* "compete!" The way
it is now, they have a lock (supposedly) on their existing user base [1]. A
common API could potentially commoditize their product and while that's good
from a consumer's point of view, it's not necessarily something a company
wants [2].

  -spc (A former business partner/boss was always going on about forming
        "proprietary" products and services ... )

[1] If any of these companies are public, their customers are *not* the
        people that use their products, but instead are shareholders. And
        in shareholder logic, a "proprietary product or service" is a Good
        Thing (TM).

[2] There's a reason Microsoft repeatedly attempts to "extend" such free
        standards as Kerberos, HTTP, HTML, etc. "Competition is a sin."
        --John D. Rockefeller.
Received on Sun Mar 21 2004 - 12:02:08 GMT