CLR on Linux and FreeBSD
The Sys-Con site has an interesting post about the whole “Java open, .NET closed” meme. The Mono Project just won “Best Open Source Project” at Linux World Expo, an honor that is well-deserved IMO. In an industry where open-source projects have often become vehicles of politics, propaganda, and punditry; Mono team is all about making cool stuff that works.The whole Apache project is impressive in the spirit of the pre-bubble open-source projects, but Apache’s heavy dependence on BigCo funding (IBM, Sun, etc.) kind of disqualifies themand spoils the romance.
Anyway, the point being raised by the Sys-Con site is “.NET runs on Linux, so how can you say it’s proprietary?” And of course, it is true. I’ve had no problems compiling and running C# programs on FreeBSD (Rotor), and Mono goes well beyond Rotor for functionality. The comments, and the referenced Salon article,indicate that people are still not getting it — Microsoft wants .NET to be completely open! There is clearly a deep mistrust in the minds of many developers that MSFT would really want to compete on a level playing field, but that’s not the way people at Microsoft see things. Maybe I can explain:
- MSFT wants to win. The big guy always tries to block access, while the little guy always fights for equal access. It’s the behavior that people accuse Microsoft of, and it’s simple business 101. The thing to keep in mind is that Microsoft is actually the “little guy” in some businesses. For example, MSFT kept reverse-engineering AOL IM so that MSN IM could interoperate, and AOL kept blocking MSN by changing the protocol. In the case of Enterprise Application Servers, Microsoft is still puny compared to Sun, IBM. It is very strategic for Sun and IBM to pitch lousy proprietary solutions like Java and RMI, because they know it keeps Microsoft out. As long as they keep feeding you news stories about how territorial MSFT is, you will never notice as they block access to their cash cows.Confucius say, “when it comes to ‘open’, always trust the little guy and fear the big guy”.
- MSFT birthright is software.Java comes froma hardware company. Most engineers at MSFT would be insulted at the thought that they couldn’t compete without dirty tricks; especially against a hardware company. Morale isn’t that low, people don’t believe that they need to use dirty tricks, and they are completely fired up to show everyone once and for all who rules software. Many people in the industrywere drunk on propaganda and bubble money, but when the hangover clears, they’ll never doubt these guys again.
- MSFT needs new markets. The picture of a mother hen jealously protecting her nest is not an apt description of a Microsoft hungry for growth. Microsoft needs to create new markets to be successful. New markets require new infrastructure to be built, and Microsoft is willing to invest the money to enable these new markets to form. XML and .NETare like terraforming a new planet, because we need an additional place to live. The fact that other creatures will live on the new planet is not a matter of concern — the other wildlife contribute to a more beautiful ecosystem.