In fact we have two open source C compilers to
choose from, Watcom and the GCC. Frankly speaking
that's one too many and speaks to one of the more
serious long term problems of open source in
general. That was part of the reason for my
question about compiling Mozilla with Watcom.
On the other hand I think we should have shown
greater interest in SNAP as a generic, cross-OS,
device driver approach. I don't know if it makes
much sense to have OS/2 support for a device if no
OS/2 application exists to use. Maybe it's a sense
of one hand feeding the other. However, the more
vendors willing to support multiple OSes, the more
chances for OS/2.
I admit I'm not a C, C++, or JAVA fan. That
doesn't make me "anti-". It simply means that I
prefer something else. However, these dominate
today's programming environment and thus exist as a
reality. One aspect of that reality lies in
enabling the user, specifically the casual user.
In open source this means "easing" the barriers
first to entry, second to continued or ongoing use,
and third to contributing to its growth.
That means open source of the tools and the
applications which depend upon them, easing the
barriers to their use and contributing to their
growth. It means bringing this capability down to
the individual user, furnishing him (as part of the
enablement) will all the information (reference
manuals, tutorials, etc.) necessary to understand
and navigate the source as well as which tools
apply where.
Whether through our website, our SIGS, our CD of
the month or specifically focused CDs perhaps SCOUG
can begin to take a leadership position in
connecting the dots, drawing them together in a
manner which, one, eases their use and, two,
provides an information template which the OS/2
community in general can adopt. This in turn can
enhance the value of the open source for OS/2 which
has exploded (for all the wrong reasons:failed
software ventures) in the last few years.
Our struggle to survive as a community depends as
much on what we do for ourselves as much as it does
on any external support. What we do has an effect
on what we can expect (and encourage) externally.
I feel that this lies well within our capabilities
and what we can draw upon from elsewhere within the
community.
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2002 ]
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