Re: usual nontechnical issues

From: Alessandro Federici (nomore_at_spam.forme)
Date: 11/25/03 

Date: Tue, 25 Nov 2003 09:15:01 -0600

"C4D - Kim Madsen" <kbm@components4developers.com
(kbmMW/kbmMemTable/kbmWABD/kbmX10)> wrote in message
news:3fc369ac@newsgroups.borland.com...
[..]
> Apart from that, I agree in your logic, but the same logic applies to VB
etc. which are still used for 'Enterprise'
> apps.

Not really. MS guaranteed support to VS6 users for a few years.

[..]
> Freely translated:
> 'But a complete compatibility will not happen. Microsoft established that
fact to PC World on the newly helt IT Forum
> conference. The top layers in the .Net architecture are not open
standards, but are owned by Microsoft and cant be
> copied.'

I don't see any name of MS officials in there. This is PCWorld's saying from
what it looks.
Where's the "official statement"? (this doesn't mean I think there's any
interest from MS in making compatibility complete).

> If what they need is in TP then why should they learn a new tool?

Because new tools usually help you do things better and faster.

> If you need something new, then you use something new.

Unfortunately the reality is that many people don't know they could use
better tools (i.e. VB6 users <G>).

[..]
> Well.. Linux actually do maintain a good level of DOS and Win
compatibility.

????

> But one of the reasons why it has still not taken 100% off is exactly that
the good level hasnt been good enough.
> Hence users are reluctant to use it because of the existing codebase.

IMO the problems are much more than this.

[..]
> I on the other hand dont see why one should compete in an area where there
are lots of large competitors, when there are
> niche areas that may be more lucrative and easier to control.

The fact Datasnap is made by a big player, ASTA has existed for a while
before we came along and MS provides you with all you need to develop nTier
apps without spending an extra penny than Delphi Standard doesn't seem to
hurt any of us, does it? <G> Markets that are only in the hands of big
players now might change when smaller players offer more cost-effective
solutions which might also provide better value (this is a general
statement). Or, to loko at the Linux example, even when quality is not so
good but good-enough.

> > The question is are those people looking for alternatives?
> Some VB'ers seemingly are.

If you say so <G>
My real-life experience tells me the exact opposite.

[..]
> > To me it's the only other concrete alternative for cross-platform apps
right
> > now.
> Im still very unsure about where it will go. It may be great, but as I
read it right now its just a unifying IDE on top
> of a bunch of 3rdparty compilers. That wont make crossplatform very well,
as each compiler has its own incompabitlities.

I didn't mean it's a good alternative to Java or has a sure future. I only
said it's the only other realistic and proved (C++) alternative.

[..]
> I dont understand your point? Gradually dropping means there will be less
compilers for Delphi by Borland.
> Currently there is one more than there have been before... so I would
rather call it to extend its compiler base.

I missread it. It sill has to be seen if there will be more. IMO it will
either stabilize or shrink after DFDN.

> Great! something we can agree about :)

The other things I removed where points I agree with as well ;-)

> Well.. then the extensibility of the component base :)

I have a lot of problems with some base classes as well, but regardless of
that, 3rd parties solve most issues ;-)

> As long it doesnt prevent you from easily changing your UI, then fine. But
if it locks you in then no way unless the
> developer is totally convinced that is fine and wont ever change.

The business logic I talk about has nothing to do with UI.
That's another domain of "rules".

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