Virtual machines. Why aren't they used more?

From: Robert Vazan (robertvazan_at_privateweb.sk)
Date: 11/27/03 

Date: Thu, 27 Nov 2003 13:35:44 +0100

Internet had catastrophic effect on compatibility. Back in time before
Internet was popular, businesses and individuals bought software to
prepare their documents, then printed them out and sent them to other
people. Paper was universal information carrier.

Internet isn't paper. Internet is more like a file system. There are
attempts to create common standards, but the truth of software development
is that every new feature requires new storage format, unless one is
willing to invest into advanced AI decoder/optimizer. Files record almost
every click to maximize information available to the application.
Standards under commercial control consequently explode in complexity.

So the idea of paper comes back in two forms: one-way conversion and
downloadable decoders. One-way conversion is very problematic, because it
requires sender to do a lot of manual work. It could be automated by
embedding both public and private formats into one file, but it is space
inefficient.

Downloadable decoders, as they exist now, are ordinary binaries for
Windows (with exceptional ports to other systems) with all their problems.
Portability and security are essential for technology to be universally
accepted. Ideally, every document should have embedded only link to
decoder and recipient's software should download, install, and execute the
decoder automatically.

Java isn't virtual machine. Java is a bunch of libraries on top of
operating system on top of virtual machine. Java is meant to be best
development platform rather than simplest virtual hardware. Really free
decoders should pull in all their dependencies instead of relying on wide
support from target system.

Relevant Pages

  • Re: Cant view
    ... Sometimes there's a corrupt file in the cache and one must go to Tools | ... You can test whether Java is working on your machine at the following sites: ... Look at the Virtual Machine settings in Internet ...
    (microsoft.public.windows.inetexplorer.ie6.browser)
  • Cant view
    ... We download Java and still can't view the ... Look at the Virtual Machine settings in Internet ...
    (microsoft.public.windows.inetexplorer.ie6.browser)
  • Re: Virtual machines. Why arent they used more?
    ... > Internet was popular, businesses and individuals bought software to ... > downloadable decoders. ... > development platform rather than simplest virtual hardware. ...
    (comp.programming)
  • RE: not reconizing plug ins
    ... may appear due to various security settings in your browser. ... you need to adjust you security settings. ... How to reset your security settings in Internet Explorer: ... Java and installed the new one, when I click on a game to play the Java icon ...
    (microsoft.public.windowsxp.basics)
  • Re: Java isnt working right, but all internet tests tell me its working perfectly
    ... Go to Internet Options> Security> Internet Zone, ... The new webpage shows 2 options: display graphic chart or java ...
    (microsoft.public.windows.inetexplorer.ie6.browser)