[Am-info] query about MS "Innovations"

[madodel@ptdprolog.net]

In <0204051827050H.15299@nonesuch.ph.union.edu>, on 04/05/02 at 06:27 PM,
   Felmon Davis <davisf@union.edu> said:

>Perhaps your last question was overlooked? It's a worrisome thought:  why
>exactly wouldn't 'open source' _also_ produce a 'mono-culture'?

>If X produces an improved antiviral, X releases it to others who 
>incorporate it into their software. If everyone does this in tandem, 
>then we have a 'mono-culture'.

>Or X produces an improvement and Y produces a _different_ 
>improvement; now we have 'diversity'.  But mightn't this potentially 
>reintroduce incompatibilities?

>Must be late-afternoon Friday haze, not thinking clearly: does 'open 
>source' address the 'monoculture' problem?

I don't know.  If you have a standard, then I presume everyone is using
it, so wouldn't that make it a "mono-culture"?   At least with an open
standard the good guys have a chance to spot the problems just as the bad
guys have the opportunity to exploit them.


Mark

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