16 April 2010, 2:54 UTCOS for ¼ of century ?
Linux is currently providing service for most diverse HW imaginable. It is also providing SW for most common tasks and it's movement appears to be unstoppable. But there are some areas where progress of open source was negligible or even becoming worse as years go. One such "territory" is very diverse collection of HW specific SW, required for servicing of special non-computer hardware. Industrial controllers, measuring equipment, GPS, medical equipment and many more. Why does have Linux so little traction in this area?
Typical requirements for this SW are:
- long term reliability
- profit is often secondary (or none expected) - supplier relies on HW sales and/or support for income
- long term availability of HW/OS combination to allow many years of undisturbed support of their non-computer hardware
- full "practical ownership" of the system - as little dependence on other parties as possible
- no need - often no availability - of internet connection
- malware resistance is essential
- very low HW/SW requirements - DOS environment with text based menus would probably be still OK for most applications in this group
All this can be best provided by Linux environment. And yet, since demise of DOS it runs almost exclusively on various - often obsolete - versions of Windows. Why is it so? In my opinion the main reason is that development paradigm which so well served Linux for general purpose SW seldom works here. Specifically -
- For every application there are two players - manufacturer of non-computer hardware and end user. Both have to embrace Linux but majority of them are currently using some Windows PC and only small minority knows about Linux. Power users of Linux are rare.
- Every application has small number of installations - often as little as hundreds. There is little chance to form a pool of Linux users who would push for Linux flavour of controls.
- manufacturer of non-computer hardware does not directly feel push for Linux based controls and without their participation is any development of Linux version usually doomed.
- Development of application is done commercially and on tight budget. Nobody dares to ignore Windows version and (another) Linux version appears to involve at least doubling of development costs.
- Large number of Linux distributions adds to confusion.
- Manufacturers are operating in network of cooperating entities, which very actively offer their products/services for payment. Linux system where user of product has to search supplier is unusual and therefore suspicious. All manufacturer's employees are expected to treat all competing offers (three are often required!) as equal. That leaves Linux with no agent which would advocate it's use.
- There appears to be no economic benefit in Linux version as far as management can see.
Solution to this dilemma may be a commercial entity, which would offer services, missing in mainstream Linux. What form should these services take?
- SW toolbox based on most common distro, probably Ubuntu - fully contained development system.
- Ability to write binary programs in familiar language (C or python etc), which can be easily incorporated in manufacturers Live CD
- Provide packaging services if customer is concerned to use SW toolbox. Take their SW and deliver multiple copies of dedicated LiveCD
- Provide assurance that OS environment will be available in foreseeable future, at least 25 years
- Actively search customers by advertising, exhibiting and direct mail
- Provide contact point (email and phone number) if customer runs into problem. Provide personal support if necessary.
Target markets:
- Legacy systems. There has to be tons of production equipment controlled by PLCs, motor controllers, pneumatic systems and others which were programmed/configured/maintained using DOS or Win 3.n, often over RS232. If such smart box fails, it can be possibly replaced by second-hand one - or a new equivalent - but original (often undocumented) SW has to be downloaded from the failed box. Some end users have to be desperate - only other option is redevelopment of control program. Very costly option... Original suppliers have no incentive to develop Win7 versions of software but may be persuaded to provide necessary information.
- Simple configuration applications - setting up, adjusting speeds, accelerations, time delays
- update of firmware
- remote control of non-computer hardware from PC
What carrot is there for the Manufacturer:
- Manufacturer does not have to provide new versions of their SW for every new version of Windows (and possibly for Mac),
- End user can be sure that system will work in future, even if original supplier is unable to provide version for latest Windows. Open source LiveCD Linux will offer solution even if original provider of SW toolbox fails himself.
- End user will be able to use SW on much wider choice of PCs, where Widows do not load or load with difficulty (netbooks).
- End user can forget about licensing difficulties both for Manufacturer's SW (unless Manufacturer insists on it) and for OS. Backup PC systems on obsolete PCs are perfectly OK.
- As most interfacing between Manufacturer's SW and LiveCD Linux is provided by "SW toolbox" development of Linux version is simple enough.
- Changeover from Windows to LiveCD Linux needs to be done only once, not for every version of Windows. LiveCD Linux boots also on Mac, so it can replace Mac version. (This is immediate direct saving for Manufacturer!)
- Linux offers almost 100% malware resistance currently with excellent outlook. Currently zero risk that some corrupted game illegally used on factory LAN would stop production line.
- Ideally, manufacturer can develop LiveCD Linux version only, saving on cost of development tools and using LiveCD Linux version on any compatible PC HW regardless of original OS - Windows PCs, Mac PCs, Linux PCs, netbooks and quite a few odd pieces of HW.
Are you interested ?
29 March 2010, 7:18 UTCTilting at climate/carbon windmills ...
Wikipedia: "Quixotism is the description of a person or an act that is caught up in the romance of noble deeds and the pursuit of unreachable goals. It also serves to describe an idealism without regard to practicality."
Many articles in ABC show, that knights of La Mancha are still active and continuously trying to perpetuate their windmill war. Fortunately,not everybody is brainwashed in believing them...
1) There is no "global warming" - see australian BOM climatic page, yearly average temperature did not change since year 2000!
2) There is no scientific proof that the carbon dioxide has major influlence on climate. Available observations suggest that its influence is minor or none.
3) Australia is producing under 2% of world's total of carbon dioxide
4) Even most draconian steps to limit carbon dioxide production would have much less effect on production of carbon dioxide than diminishing availability of fossil fuels.
If all four facts are taken together "action on climate change" by Australia as continually requested by various pressure groups of all shades of green and red would be fatal mistake. It would be biggest squandering of public money ever, quixotic attempt to fight non-existent problem by enormously cumbersome, unpredicatbly costly and totaly inapropriate means.
This tilting at climate/carbon windmills has to be stopped before there is irreparable damage.
10 November 2007, 21:57 UTCFaulty by design
Nobody is probably surprised anymore that appliances switched off by solid-state switch still keep sucking power from the wall sockets.
What is mind boggling is that apparently same inefficient system is often used for battery powered gadgets. The perfect example are UHF Walkie-Talkies. I use my set occasionally for reversing of car and I found out that unless I wish to replace it's three AAA batteries every time I have to put strip of paper between one battery and spring its contact. It works perfectly (patented in all technologically backward countries!) but you feel pretty silly doing it. And Walkie-Talkies are not fully ready for instant use, you have to "arm" them by removing papers.
To get Walkie-Talkies with the proper switch - which do not need paper nappies to be long term ready - you have to choose costly, high-powered ones. Cheap ones, sufficient for most situations are invariably with battery flattening solid-state switch.
Even quite costly gadgets may have this problem. My hand held VHF Marine Radio costing more than most UHF Walkie-Talkies has also solid-state switch. There is no access to the contacts in this case so I have to remove rechargeable battery pack thus making the set no longer sealed. For unit which is for many people important safety device this is IMHO inexcusable.
4 November 2007, 1:43 UTCTwo basic ways how to work on computer
There are IMHO two basic approaches to work on computer. I would call one of them program centric and the other data centric.
Most of my work on computer is data related (photos, diaries, various text documents, drawings...) - and I wish to keep these data forever, certainly over number of SW generations. To do it I keep all my data in single storage area, in format, which is open, widely used and compatible with number of SW packages. (BTW it sits currently on USB HDD, so I can just carry it to another machine.) And I need full control over fate of my data.
Program centric software is centred around programs and data are basically treated as property of program. Typically you "import" your photos by program, it is stored in some database and used as required. Quite often you have no choice of editor from that point. That may be OK for time being - until you need to do something your editor does not offer. Or until supplier of that program disappears or decides to radically change style and you are no longer happy with it. Or until you decide to migrate to different system for whatever reason.
FOSS software exemplified by Linux is perfect tool for data centric system. OS X and Windows prefer program centric approach. Partly because suppliers of program do not cooperate as well as authors of GPL SW, partly in full knowledge that program centric system tends to "lock in" users.
That is why I use almost exclusively Linux.
31 October 2007, 23:17 UTCWhy should a Company prefer FOSS ?
In no particular order:
- little danger of enforced obsolescence of file formats
- no risk of data being infected with third party copyright
- high security from malware
- availability to export/save as pdf from any program
- no need to trace licences and observe arcane licencing requirements
- no problem with duplicating of machines - no need to wait for additional licences
- little risk of unauthorised copies of SW run by employees at work
- ability of employees to run identical software at home for evaluation / training purposes
11 September 2007, 0:57 UTCGlobal warming or ice age ?
- there was no significant change of global temperature in the last 8 - 10 years
- there is no scientific proof that there is a significant long-term change of climate under way
- even if there is global warming there is no scientific proof that human activity has any a significant impact
- even if it would be desirable to adjust CO2 production it cannot be done sufficiently without tragic impact on all nations and without widespread conflicts. CO2 production will be curtailed by lack of fossil fuels anyway
- it seems to be certain that Earth is heading for another ice age in the near future (on climatic time scale)
To squander billions to fight "global warming" is under circumstances sheer lunacy. To request it is a witch-hunt...
15 November 2006, 9:19 UTCSunset on weird planet
Can you imagine to spend one whole incarnation on the planet, which is so close to it's star, that the star is actually visible like a small, enormously bright disc, slowly moving across sky? You cannot look on the star most of day of course - it is too brigt for it. For a few minutes only during sunset you can watch this huge cosmical body, keeping by life of all planet going by its constant flood of energy.
I was watching this miracle other day. The disc of star, coloured red by atmosphere, was slowly descending to the nearby forest, almost touching large steel structures which most sophisticated species among planet inhabitants use to supply well controlled stream of energy to every place where they live. (Even this stream of energy originated from the mighty star.)
How strange and awe inspiring show, one of many which inhabitants of the planet encounter all the time. If I would be living in less interesting place I would probably dream about at least a few days in such vibrating place. May be even whole incarnation... but I do not know, I may be too scared to pray for it!
23 November 2005, 4:33 UTCRight to live
Fight over RU-486 is here again. This continuous effort to make abortion as easy and convenient as scientifically possible is rather depressing chapter of mixed story of our civilisation.
The genome of new individual is completely defined when meiosis - merging of male and female cells - is finished. It is a moment when soul joins so far very small cluster of life, single cell, to form human being. Surely that is the moment when new individual gains moral right to be treated as a human.
It is very difficult to decide when it is morally acceptable to destroy this budding human. Certainly in exceptional cases only. Abortions should form part of statistic about life expectancy etc. We may be surprised - first few months are probably most dangerous time during existence of individual. If one survives them he is likely to live almost century. And we may be surprised to find out who is the most dangerous enemy. It seems obvious that numbers are way too high and that society should do its best to lift its game.
That said, there seems to be little in favour of making abortion more difficult and dangerous than necessary. Perhaps we should go ahead with RU-486 but we should also search earth and sky for new ways how to limit numbers of abortion. With dignity for both mother and child.
23 November 2005, 0:29 UTCFreedom in digital age
There was always conflict between strong players (large concerns, monopolies) and small players (small business and individuals). The difference is that with onset of digital age lines of conflict become less obvious as they are hidden in technical specifications, in new complex laws and in small print of licencing conditions and contracts.
Sony CD malware story shows that my so far somewhat uncertain worries are fairly accurate: it is already impacting on millions of computer users worldwide. Yellow dots markings, printed secretly by most colour laser jets on all pages to allow fingerprinting of documents are another example. In both cases customer purchased goods (printer or music) but was secretly presented with underhand features - features which he would most certainly refuse if he had an opportunity to negotiate.
The situation with "Sony CD malware" as it stands presently suggests that at least 1/2 million of computers worldwide - probably a multiple of this number - was infected by hidden software, which forms secret part of content of some of Sony music CD. When CD is to be played on PC this malware is secretly installed. Impact on users varies but Sony CD malware encroaches on performance and hard disk space of all computers and makes them less secure and reliable (Linux computers are not affected). It also reports on usage pattern of infected computer and opens door for more extensive interference (marketing etc.) Details of "Sony malware" story are quite interesting - and chilling.
Technicalities aside, "Sony CD malware" violates computer ownership rights of infected computers, same way like burglar violates home ownership rights of home owner. Your computer is no longer under your full control - you feel that by honestly purchasing music from Sony you unknowingly relinquished part of your ownership of the hardware you need for work and play. This is textbook example of "autonomous" activity of software - hidden, arrogant, sinister.
No single citizen can defend himself against heavy handed abuse of digital age on his/her own."Buyer beware" is no longer a simple issue - you have to understand very complex technical issues and often nobody knows except a few employees of supplier. Sony CD malware was infecting computers almost year before it was discovered by computer security specialist programmer, more or less by accident. Suppliers of virus checking software - MacAfee and others - probably knew from the beginning but no warning was issued to their paying customers!
It is totaly unacceptable that somebody sells a product - CD or anything else - to young worker or farmer or student or pensioner and uses it to gain unfair profit or obscure business advantage while interfering with enjoyment, equipment or even lifestyle of hishonest and unsuspecting customer...
And even if you can see the trap, you have often little choice. Supplier is often in position of monopoly - either he is sole supplier of given product (CD with your preferred group), or all suppliers dance to the same tune (colour laser jets and yellow dots), or the anti-customer behaviour is enforced by some standard or agreement (digital TV encoding). You may see the trap but you will either walk in or return to your pre-digital cave. If it still exists - I have not seen many vinyl records in shops recently...
There are already a number of court actions against Sony, mainly in USA but also in Italy. Many more will follow, no doubt. At the same time, court actions with neccessarily limited scope are not a real solution.
In my opinion, intrusion into personal computer and secretive manipulation of digital equipment should be treated in smilar way to phone tapping. It may be accepted if important interest of comunity is at stake, but it should be strictly prohibited by law otherwise. Any trespass should be treated as severely as if some company starts mass phone tapping for sake of its business model - legitimate or not. I feel that action should be taken here in Australia and everywhere else - in the court or in parliament - to stop suppliers behaving like a proverbial Big Brother. If there is sufficient legislative already, it should be invoked. If not, it needs to be introduced as soon as possible.
26 December 2004, 0:12 UTCChristmas
Christmas origin may be a solstice celebrations. And it may also be a Jesus Christ birthday celebration. But - what should be the true Christmas spirit? Jesus Christ response to some questioning (Matthew, Chapter 22) may help:
"Master, which is the greatest commandment in the law? Jesus said to him: You shall love the Lord your God with your whole heart, and with your whole soul, and with your whole mind. This is the greatest and the first commandment. And the second is: You shall love your neighbour as you love yourself."
Presents and celebrations may be a nice manifestation of love to the other people. Wise man or woman will also observe the other commandment - the one which Jesus Christ himself called "the greatest commandment".
18 December 2004, 9:38 UTCHuman life
17 November 2004, 6:11 UTCClimate mongering
13 November 2004, 22:30 UTCOn good and evil
12 November 2004, 21:55 UTCMotherhood
10 November 2004, 4:59 UTCPresident George W Bush has been re-elected
10 November 2004, 4:55 UTCIf you wander into these pages - Welcome!