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 Simon Phipps's BlogBusiness ArchivesThoughts on Open Sourcing Sun's Java ImplementationsPosted by webmink on August 18, 2006 at 07:18 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)For the last few months I've been writing an occasional series on the issues surrounding open sourcing Sun's Java implementations over on my other blog. Realising there are plenty of people on java.net who never get over there, here's a summary of the story so far.
I'll try to keep this list up to date, so you might want to bookmark it. Monoculture Considered HarmfulPosted by webmink on September 26, 2003 at 04:45 PM | Permalink | Comments (9)I commented recently that, while we can each take steps to prevent virus and worm attacks on our computer systems, the biggest threat we actually face is the fact that we have a computer monoculture. Most of the world’s computers run Microsoft’s operating systems, thus most of the world’s computers are vulnerable to the same viruses and worms at the same time. The only way to stop this is to avoid monoculture in computer operating systems, and for reasons just as reasonable and obvious as avoiding monoculture in farming. Microsoft exacerbates this problem via a wide range of practices that lock users to its platform. The impact on security of this lock-in is real and endangers society.Actually, I didn't write that - it's from the executive summary in the report CCIA are promoting, 'Cyber InSecurity' [PDF, 880k]. The (brave) authors include Bruce Schneier, who I respect greatly, and Daniel Geer, who @Stake (a Microsoft contractor) have shockingly summarily dismissed despite the fact that the report simply states the self-evident and makes recommendations that are just common-sense: While appropriate remedies require significant debate, these three alone would engender substantial, lasting improvement if Microsoft were vigorously forced to: • Publish interface specifications to major functional components of its code, both Windows and Office. • Foster development of alternative sources of functionality through an approach comparable to the highly successful "plug and play" technology for hardware components. • Work with consortia of hardware and software vendors to define specifications and interfaces for future developments, in a way similar to the Internet Society's RFC process to define new protocols for the InternetThese need some safeguards; the usual approach with which these things are addressed means each would probably be turned into a revenue and lock-in opportunity or to source of monopoly growth. Before the usual and inevitable cries of 'Microsoft-hater' are raised, can I make a plea to people to look at the issue here (and read John Lettice's take too). It's actually not based on an instinctive hatred of Microsoft - as Geer himself says: "If the monoculture was all Linux, it would be just as bad"It's a fact [huge page] that they have a monopoly, that it's resulted in a monoculture and that this provides a big, squishy target for the black hats no matter how hard anyone tries to fix the bugs, and no amount of safe behaviour by customers is going to fix it. It's the facts that need addressing. Either every country has to become a police state or we need diversity. [Also posted to Webmink] Webmink About TownPosted by webmink on June 08, 2003 at 11:30 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)
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