01.22.09
When Mono Helps Microsoft Windows and Excludes GNU/Linux
“Every line of code that is written to our standards is a small victory; every line of code that is written to any other standard, is a small defeat. Total victory [...] is the universal adoption of our standards by developers, as this is an important step towards total victory for Microsoft itself: “A computer on every desk and in every home, running Microsoft software.””
–Microsoft, internal document [PDF]
YOU WANT MONO? You got Mono! But forget about GNU/Linux.
Why does Miguel de Icaza brag about a product that supports only non-Free platforms and specifically — despite its high share — excludes GNU/Linux? He writes: “Unity uses the Mono runtime on both Windows and MacOS and it might become one of the largest deployment vehicles for the Mono VM.”
This is not a victory. It’s the labour of Free software developers being deflected and used only to support Microsoft's patents-encumbered framework and platform. How does it feel to be taken for a fool? █
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The Mad Hatter said,
January 22, 2009 at 10:01 pm
Heh. I Can Has Cheezburger and I Has a Hotdog are two of my favorite web sites.
Victor Soliz said,
January 22, 2009 at 10:15 pm
This is rather interesting.
To be fair the proprietary platform exclusivity didn’t come from Mono. Cartoon network seems to have intentionally neglected Linux from the equation. They were using Mono’s VM as a base so it seems rather easy they could have done it in Linux. But well it is something to consider how happy Miguel is about something being windows-OS/X only. But well, it is not like Linux is his platform of choice, Mono is.
Jose_X said,
January 23, 2009 at 9:28 am
I think I posted this following linked comment in the wrong place.. http://boycottnovell.com/2009/01/22/con-artists-in-the-press/#comment-58856 . Roy, I’ll try to clean that up soon. Maybe today.
Novell should change mono to avoid the above problem with patents and to develop a unique offering that many current dotnet users may eventually prefer over MSdotnet: http://boycottnovell.com/2009/01/11/ms-maintaining-gap-vs-linux/#comment-58215 . I do like the idea of mono and Java and ?? getting their interfaces more in line with each other.
Meanwhile, I’m happy if mono stays off Linux (at least Novell will maintain it in Suse.. unfortunately, that will still do harm), but hopefully Linux+FOSS devs will keep improving what we have, so that the topnotch platform for targeting FOSS, without a doubt, continues to be Linux&friends. Mono always should have been as a way to drive people away from MSdotnet, except that this is achieved preferably through alternatives that don’t try to follow MSdotnet so closely, and in fact lead.. Leverage what Java has from day one and then fix it up if necessary and lead. Build migration tools from MSdotnet onto this new platform. Is Novell paying attention. Is Novell independent? Do mono devs not on Microsoft’s payroll agree with this “break free” suggestion?
Roy Schestowitz said,
January 23, 2009 at 9:32 am
Thanks for that.