2001-09

<body stylesrc="index.html" background="images/Bkgrnd02T2.gif"> <table border="0" cellpadding="6" cellspacing="0" width="810"> <tr> <td align="right" valign="top" height="1" width="170"> <p align="center"><img border="0" src="images/Accent03.gif" align="left" width="142" height="37"> </p> <p align="left"><b><font size="2">September 2001 - Vol. 2 No. 9</font></b></p> </td> <td height="1" width="612"> <p align="center">  <a href="index.html" target="_top">[Home]</a> <a href="Newsletters.html" target="_top">[Up]</a> <a href="Dummy-Next-Issue.html" target="_top">[Next]</a> <a href="2001-08.html" target="_top">[Previous]</a></td> </tr> <tr> <td valign="top" height="529" bgcolor="#FFFFCC" width="170"> <font size="2"> <p><a href="#TechTalk"><b>Tech Talk</b></a><br> <a href="#LinuxWorld West 2001">LinuxWorld West 2001</a> </p> <p><a href="#Editorial"><b>Editorial</b></a><br> <a href="#Demise of Computer Literacy">Demise of Computer Literacy</a><a href="#EFF Ineptitude"><br> EFF Ineptitude<br> </a><a href="#Gestapo, KGB, or DVD Consortium">Gestapo, KGB, or DVD Consortium</a> </p> <p><a href="#Commentary"><b>Commentary<br> </b></a><a href="#I have 3 browsers on my machine">I have 3 browsers on my machine...</a></p><p><a href="#Trends"><b>Trends</b></a><br> <a href="#Get ready to hit the bottom">Get ready to hit the bottom</a></font> <a href="2001-05-Main.html#SourceForge Statistics"><br> </a></p> </td> <td height="277" bgcolor="#FFCC99" width="612"> <b> <h1><a name="TechTalk"><font color="#000000">Tech Talk</font></a></h1> <h2><font face="Arial" color="#000000"><a name="LinuxWorld West 2001">LinuxWorld West 2001</a></font></h2> </b> <i><font SIZE="2"> <p>By </font><a href="Author-RegCharney.html">Reg. Charney</a></p> </i> <p>I enjoyed LinuxWorld West 2001 a lot. There were two main themes on display: clustering software and hardware; and application software.</p> <p>My expertise is not in hardware, so I will limit my comments to software. My overall impression was that Linux applications were maturing and starting to enter the main stream. The weakest part of the show was the limited tutorials. The best part of the show was the good mixture of open and closed source products that were of sufficient quality for me to consider using them in my everyday life. My guess on this year’s attendance was about 10,000 people. From the exhibitors I asked, the quality of the attendees was good to excellent. The venue changed from last year in San Jose to this year in San Francisco. For some strange reason, sessions were split between the Moscone Center North and the San Francisco Mariott hotel.</p> <p>As most of you know, I am fascinated by statistics and this show was no exception. I happen to have last year’s show guide and this year’s. Here are some comparisons:</p> <div align="center"> <center> <table BORDER="1" CELLSPACING="1" bgcolor="#FFFFFF"> <tr> <td WIDTH="46%" VALIGN="TOP" HEIGHT="28"> <p> </p> </td> <td WIDTH="17%" VALIGN="TOP" HEIGHT="28"><b><font SIZE="2"> <p ALIGN="CENTER">2000</font></b></td> <td WIDTH="16%" VALIGN="TOP" HEIGHT="28"><b><font SIZE="2"> <p ALIGN="CENTER">2001</font></b></td> <td WIDTH="21%" VALIGN="TOP" HEIGHT="28"><b><font SIZE="2"> <p ALIGN="CENTER">%chg</font></b></td> </tr> <tr> <td WIDTH="46%" VALIGN="TOP" HEIGHT="28"><font SIZE="2"> <p>Pages in guide</font></td> <td WIDTH="17%" VALIGN="TOP" HEIGHT="28"><font SIZE="2"> <p ALIGN="CENTER">98</font></td> <td WIDTH="16%" VALIGN="TOP" HEIGHT="28"><font SIZE="2"> <p ALIGN="CENTER">82</font></td> <td WIDTH="21%" VALIGN="TOP" HEIGHT="28"><font SIZE="2"> <p ALIGN="CENTER">-16%</font></td> </tr> <tr> <td WIDTH="46%" VALIGN="TOP" HEIGHT="28"><font SIZE="2"> <p>Advertisers</font></td> <td WIDTH="17%" VALIGN="TOP" HEIGHT="28"><font SIZE="2"> <p ALIGN="CENTER">34</font></td> <td WIDTH="16%" VALIGN="TOP" HEIGHT="28"><font SIZE="2"> <p ALIGN="CENTER">24</font></td> <td WIDTH="21%" VALIGN="TOP" HEIGHT="28"><font SIZE="2"> <p ALIGN="CENTER">-29%</font></td> </tr> <tr> <td WIDTH="46%" VALIGN="TOP" HEIGHT="28"><font SIZE="2"> <p>Sponsors</font></td> <td WIDTH="17%" VALIGN="TOP" HEIGHT="28"><font SIZE="2"> <p ALIGN="CENTER">37</font></td> <td WIDTH="16%" VALIGN="TOP" HEIGHT="28"><font SIZE="2"> <p ALIGN="CENTER">30</font></td> <td WIDTH="21%" VALIGN="TOP" HEIGHT="28"><font SIZE="2"> <p ALIGN="CENTER">-19%</font></td> </tr> <tr> <td WIDTH="46%" VALIGN="TOP" HEIGHT="31"><font SIZE="2"> <p>Tutorials</font></td> <td WIDTH="17%" VALIGN="TOP" HEIGHT="31"><font SIZE="2"> <p ALIGN="CENTER">13</font></td> <td WIDTH="16%" VALIGN="TOP" HEIGHT="31"><font SIZE="2"> <p ALIGN="CENTER">17</font></td> <td WIDTH="21%" VALIGN="TOP" HEIGHT="31"><font SIZE="2"> <p ALIGN="CENTER">+31%</font></td> </tr> <tr> <td WIDTH="46%" VALIGN="TOP" HEIGHT="31"><font SIZE="2"> <p>Tech. sessions</font></td> <td WIDTH="17%" VALIGN="TOP" HEIGHT="31"><font SIZE="2"> <p ALIGN="CENTER">53</font></td> <td WIDTH="16%" VALIGN="TOP" HEIGHT="31"><font SIZE="2"> <p ALIGN="CENTER">63</font></td> <td WIDTH="21%" VALIGN="TOP" HEIGHT="31"><font SIZE="2"> <p ALIGN="CENTER">+19%</font></td> </tr> </table> </center> </div> <p align="center"><b><font SIZE="2">Table #1: Show statistics</font></b></p> <p>While the technical content seems to have increased, the drop in advertisers and sponsors does not bode well for future Linux conferences.</p> <p>In the next few pages, I am going to highlight some exhibits and products I found the most interesting.</p> <b> <h3>GUI Interfaces</h3> </b> <p>Two interface vendors had interesting offerings: Trolltech (www.trolltech.com) with their Qt Palmtop; and Ximian (www.ximian.com) with their GNOME and Evolution GUI.</p> <p>I must own up to the fact that I bought a Compaq iPaq just so that I could install Linux and Qt desktop on the iPaq. Next to the Windows version of the iPaq, Qt just shines. There is no comparison with regards to usability. The most telling point for me was the fact that the Windows handwriting recognition was abysmal. It failed to recognize 30-40% of my strokes when I tried to copy the alphabet and there was no way to train it. On the other hand, the Qt handwriting is trainable and you can even enter alternative keystrokes for each letter. In case you make a mistake, you can even reset it to the default, so you have lost nothing. Recognition is on-the-fly. In contrast, the Windows version keeps everything in “ink” format until you ask it to recognize the entry. If it gets it wrong, it is often too late to correct the error. See Trolltech’s web site for sample screen snapshots.</p> <b> <h3>Productivity Tools</h3> </b> <p>Two productivity tools attracted my attention at the show. The first was by HancomLinux, Inc., called HancomOffice. They were previewing version 2.0. It includes 8 applications including a word processing product, a spreadsheet product, a presentation product, a MS Access-like database product, a painter product, a diagramming tool, a simple web page builder and a PIM. It is based on Trolltech’s KDE/Qt. It also shows an ability to transparently use MS Office file formats, with no conversion necessary. Of the productivity suites that I saw, it was the furthest along. It is not an Open Source product, but it does sell for a reasonable price of $45.</p> <p>The other productivity suite that I use is StarOffice or its Open Source variant, OpenOffice. Both these application suites are good for many things, but more compatibility with MS file formats is needed to allow for free interchange between users.</p> <b> <h3>Interviews</h3> </b> <p>A couple of years ago, I interviewed a number of people about Linux and where they saw it going. I decided to repeat the exercise this year. The main questions were:</p> <blockquote> <p>What does Linux need most?</p> <p>Where do you see Linux going?</p> <p>Is NT/XP going to continue to grow versus Linux?</p> </blockquote> <p>Often the answers reflected what the person was doing or selling. Sometimes, however, a different answer was given. Aron Kozak, PR representative from Trolltech felt that what Linux needed most was successful businesses based on Linux. Vern Brownell, CEO of Egenera, www.egenera.com, was concerned that Linux does not splinter and that it have sufficient service capability. Larry Augustine, CEO of VA Linux, www.valinux.com, felt that Linux most needed applications and productivity tools. Bruce Perens of HP, felt that Linux needed more adherence and support for the Linux Standard Base. Lastly, Shlomo Weintraub, COO of Aduva, www;aduva.com, said that Linux needed good press and better manageability tools.</p> <p>On Linux’s future, Holger Dyrff of SuSE, www.suse.com, sees Linux going everywhere and will be the #1 O/S for the enterprise and in 5-7 years will be the O/S of choice for everyone. Aron Kozak of Trolltech thinks that soon battled hardened companies will start adopting Linux more openly. Egenera’s Vern Brownell thinks that Linux will become the defacto standard for Unices, replacing all other types of Unix O/S servers. Larry Augustine thinks that GUI’s like Gnome will leverage Linux’s server dominance into the desktop. Trent Mick of ActiveState thinks that Linux will move into the embedded space and end up dominating it.</p> <p>Unless you live on a different planet, you know that Microsoft is about to launch Windows XP. Under the unrelenting promotion this will entail, I asked how will Linux fair? Holger thought that XP’s licensing will detract from any success it could garner. Aron and Trent both thought that the licensing was XP’s weak spot. Vern thought that XP will take over the Enterprise space with Linux taking over the Unix space and Microsoft getting the rest. Larry believes that NT/XP will hold its own, but not grow. It will gain no design wins from Linux and no conversions. Linux will have a better than even chance in Asia where distrust of Microsoft is rampant. The HP folks felt that XP’s growth will be limited. Lastly, Shlomo felt that any growth on the part of XP will not be at Linux’s expense.</p> <b> <h3>Development Tools</h3> </b> <p>There were three development tools that attracted my attention. They are KDE’s KDevelop, Borland’s Kylix and JBuilder, and ActiveState’s Komodo IDE.</p> <p>KDE’s KDevelop is the most mature development IDE for C and C++ development. While not new at the time of the show, I recommend it for C and C++ if you are into IDEs and are not wedded to command line editing/compiling/linking cycle. KDevelop allows you to use tools of your choice and can be customized to a great degree. I like IDEs because they centralized everything.</p> <p>If you are not wedded/welded to C/C++, there are a number of other languages out there. I have supported Borland for a long time. They have very high quality programmer tools in the Windows world. They have now ported some of them to Linux. If performance is your bag, then Kylix is the way to go on the x86 platform. Applications are easy to develop using this tool and the code is excellent. If cross-platform applications are your bag, then Borland’s JBuilder is your thing. Again, both the IDE and compiler are world-class and they uses the VM of your choice (within limits). Both Kylix and JBuilder share many similarities in the way the IDE works and integrates components into your project.</p> <p>If you are into developing sophisticated scripts and running them cross-platform using a browser like Mozilla, then ActiveState’s Komodo IDE may be for you. It has most of the properties of a compiled language IDE tailored for interpreted languages. Features include a regular expression toolkit, auto-completion, call tips, interactive remote debugging, code editor folding, and language aware code editors.</p> <b> <h3>Weird Giveaways</h3> </b> <p>The folks at NetMAX, www.netmax.com, were giving away a pair of products: a Web Server; and a Firewall. While free giveaways are not new or unusual, the folks at NetMAX had nicely packaged them and were giving them away with no tracking. It means that the giveaway was almost useless for business purposes and that impacts NetMAX’s ability to stay in business. I even had trouble giving them my contact information. They must be viable for their product to be successful.</p> <b> <h1><font color="#000000"><a name="Editorial">Editorial</a></font></h1> </b> <i> <p>By <a href="Author-RegCharney.html">Reg. Charney</a></p> </i> <b> <h3><font FACE="Arial"><a name="Demise of Computer Literacy">Demise of Computer Literacy</a></font></h3> </b> <p>On August 28, Computer Literacy bookstores closed their doors forever. For the Valley, me, and many others, this closure is very sad day. They were a hugely valuable source for technical information and a culture that valued the geek in all of us. They offered their facilities for many activities, including our monthly meetings and the Silicon Valley Linux User Group monthly InstallFests. I will miss working with the staff, especially Cherry Chiu, who helped launch this newsletter and who arranged for our meetings. Our best wishes for all the former staff. If you have the opportunity to assist them, please do so as part repayment for all they have done for us.</p> <b> <h3><font FACE="Arial"><a name="EFF Ineptitude">EFF Ineptitude</a></font></h3> </b> <p>I support the Electronic Freedom Foundation and am an active participant. However, I am angry at the ineptness at their handling of the DVD court case. At the California Court of Appeals, the EFF argued that the restraining order on publication of the DeCSS algorithm was a violation of the First Amendment Freedom of Speech. The DVD Consortium claimed that the DeCSS was a result of theft and thus was “poisoned fruit”. If the DVD Consortium is right and the code was stolen, then I agree that the DeCSS should be banned. However, no such evidence or proof was ever presented. The EFF never questioned the theft claim. Thus, the Appeals Court Justices will have no recourse but to support the Consortium.</p> <b> <h3><font FACE="Arial"><a name="Gestapo, KGB, or DVD Consortium">Gestapo, KGB, or DVD Consortium</a></font></h3> </b> <p>As I left the California Appeals Court, I was approached by a polite, young lady who identified herself as a PR person working for the DVD Consortium. She asked for my name and I gave her my business card. It is interesting that the DVD Consortium is collecting names and addresses of all apparent opponents. Keep in mind that as a private agency, the victims of this surveillance have no rights to see what is collected and what they are doing with the data.</p> <i> <b> <h1><font color="#000000"><a name="Commentary">Commentary</a></font></h1> </b> <p><b>By <a href="Author-AllanKelly.html"> Allan Kelly</a></b></p> </i> <b><i><font FACE="Arial" SIZE="2"> <h3><a name="I have 3 browsers on my machine">I have 3 browsers on my machine…</a></h3> </font></i></b><font SIZE="3"> <p>That is three different browsers from three different vendors. And this is my home machine, not some test machine – though most of them probably only have two different ones anyway. So let me explain why…</p> <p>My machine runs Windows 2000, so Internet Explorer is compulsory. Even if I didn’t like it I’m stuck with it because many Microsoft applications like Developer Studio and MSDN expect it to be there. I once tried to replace it on an NT 4.0 machine – disaster, I ended up buying a new drive so I could boot the machine.</p> <p>A while back I decided to tighten up the security options on IE. Unfortunately my internet banking stopped working! As this particular bank looks after my financial affairs in the UK, having internet access is essential. Since the only other browser they support is Netscape Navigator I have to have that too. A nice old 4.7 version. I have a newer version on my Sun box at the office and I absolutely hate the way it shows me the Netscape adverts on launching. As to version 6.0, let me quote what a former Netscape employee told me the other day: “Only Netscape employees run it.”</p> <p>Which brings me to the browser I want to run – and the only browser I’ve actually paid money for: Opera 5.x. I like Opera. I like the MDI interface (stops the screen getting cluttered and controls those pop-up adverts that are everywhere now). I like the way I can customise it, and most of all I like the way it handles cookies to protect my privacy rather than help DoubleClick track me. However, corporations don’t like it. Any site that does things a little bit fancy fails. Neither my US nor UK bank will work with it, and when booking airline tickets and such I’m usually forced back to IE or Navigator. Hence, I keep an application to sweep for Cookies on my desktop.</p> <p>So why do I put up with this? Well, I could resign myself and accept that I must have cookies, that I must use IE and I must do everything the standard way. But I don’t want to, so this solution works.</p> <p>Yes, it works, it is good enough, am I wrong to expect web sites to work as advertised? I don’t expect a car to get the same miles to the gallon that the dealer says it will, I don’t expect airlines to treat me like a valued customer so why do I expect software to work?</p> <p>Well, when it comes to a car it is between me and the dealer - MacDonalds wont turn me away just because I’m roll up in Honda, parking lots are not restricted to American and German cars. Usually, a commercial transaction is a two way thing: me and the seller. But when I use the web it is a three way thing: me, the seller and the software vendor – O! My ISP too. The vendor has no financial interest in the actual transaction. Instead, they have an interest in the greatest number of people using their software, which encourages the greatest number of sellers to support their software, which means more people must use their software, which…</p> <p>Call it vendor lock in, but I think the framers of the US constitution got it right: “Tyranny of the majority.”</p> </font> <b><i> <h1><font color="#000000"><a name="Trends">Trends</a></font></h1> </i></b><i> <p>By <a href="Author-RegCharney.html">Reg. Charney</a></p> </i><font SIZE="3"> <b><i><font FACE="Arial" SIZE="3"> <p><a name="Get ready to hit the bottom">Get ready to hit the bottom</a></p> </font></i></b> <p>I think we can finally safe say that we're getting close to the bottom of the downfall. We've been witnessing a steady drop that has been showing signs of slow down in the past three months. It looks like we're going to hit the bottom in another month or two.</p> <p>It is easy to see this deceleration in Figure 1 that displays both the total and the software engineering job openings in Silicon Valley. The indication of the approach of a minimum is apparent in Figure 1:</p> <p align="center"><img border="0" src="images/2001-09-Fig01.gif" width="471" height="287"></p> <p>Though decreasing, the trend has been towards the ASIC developers in the technology jobs market in the last months (Figure 2).</p> <p align="center"><img border="0" src="images/2001-09-Fig02.gif" width="388" height="250"></p> <p>The same is true for Windows 2000, Windows 98, and Linux in the platform jobs market (Figure 3). The jobs seem to be moving away especially from other unices towards these three.</p> <p align="center"><img border="0" src="images/2001-09-Fig03.gif" width="462" height="349"></p> <b><i><font FACE="Arial" SIZE="3"> <p>Conclusions</p> </font></i></b> <p>We can finally see the bottom from where we are now. Hopefully this will be it and we will once again enjoy the times when employees were the kings and the queens of the valley, when layoffs were unheard of, when money was picked off trees… Well, maybe not like that this time. No one in the valley believes that the companies will get crazy again soon to make unwarranted acquisitions of billions of dollars. </font> </td> </tr> </table> </body>