[DotGNU]We can destroy Microsoft's effective monopoly of the desktop

[Norbert Bollow]

Rhys Weatherley <address@hidden> wrote:

> A VM based around a traditional JIT (compile on the fly
> to native code in memory) can only be used to run the
> compiler fast, or to run the resulting program fast.  It
> cannot be used to compile the program directly down
> to efficient native code and thus give proprietary
> language implementors a super assembler for free.
> 
> This is something that we will have to watch if we ever
> build an "installation JIT", like Microsoft has.

I've been thinking that we should build such an "installation
JIT", and integrate it extremely closely with the DotGNU
platform so that the resulting code makes very heavy use of
"DotGNU system libraries", to the effect that the compiler and
the resulting native code are useful only on the DotGNU platform
(and on any derivative products of the DotGNU platform, which
must of course be GPL'd).

Their are lots of lazy proprietary language implementors.  My
dream is that the executables which are produced by their tools
will run fast on the DotGNU platform but slowly everywhere else.

If my dream becomes reality, then the lazy proprietary language
implementors will no longer print on their boxes "requires
at least Windows x", but they will write "requires at least
DotGNU yz".  After a little while, on the boxes of application
programs that are created with those tools, people will read
"requires at least Windows x and DotGNU yz".  And once we're
there, then it's only a matter of time until everyone realizes
that instead of running DotGNU on top of Windows or some other
proprietary operating system, they can simply run GNU/Linux or
some other variant of the GNU system.

In essence I'm proposing to make a direct assault on Microsoft's
effective monopoly of the end-user desktop market.  I think it
is only just and fair when in retaliation for Microsoft's attempt
to leverage their effective monopoly against Free Software, our
DotGNU counter-offensive destroys that effective monopoly.  If
this works out, that will strategically be a very serious blow
not only against Microsoft but against "proprietary software" as
a whole.

What does everyone think?

Can this plan work?

Who makes a commitment to fighting this battle?

What resources are required for putting the plan into action?

I'd say, "Sound the trumpet, and all who are on the side of
Freedom shall gather under the GNU banner and get ready for
battle!"

Greetings, Norbert.

-- 
A member of FreeDevelopers and the DotGNU Steering Committee.
Norbert Bollow, Weidlistr.18, CH-8624 Gruet  (near Zurich, Switzerland)
Tel +41 1 972 20 59      Fax +41 1 972 20 69      http://thinkcoach.com
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