Re: POSIX Layer, Stronger Chassis (Was: Re: Compatibility)

[Alfred M\. Szmidt]

   POSIX is a *fine* environment to have available for developers. It
   is a *lousy* environment for most end users.

First you will have to clarify what exatcly you mean with POSIX, which
of the following volumes do you refer to when you speak about POSIX:
XBD, XSH, XCU.

Secondly, you'll have to show why XCU stops anyone from making a
pretty GUI like GNOME for `simple users' (I dislike the term
end-users, since developers are also end-users).

In other words, what stops anyone from using POSIX (XSH) to implement
an enviroment for simple users to use?  I'll answer that: Nothing.
Just look at GNOME something that `simple users' like.

   End users don't care whether it is POSIX, NT, DOS, or little purple
   mice inside.

Actually, they do, if the purple mice start dying then it will smell
really bad after a week...

   >   I really don't see why Shapiro and AMS can't be simultaneously
   > satisfied.

   Because Shapiro wants a system that actually works well for real
   users, and AMS wants whatever AMS wants in the current instant.

You sure as heck don't want what actually works well for real users.
I want to be able to run my 20 year old programs, and I want to see
the GNU system in my life time.  You want a pretty little system that
is devoid of any link to reality, and one that will never be finished
or usable.

The difference between you and me is that you want to start with a
clean whiteboard, and scribble on that.  I want to have the current
whiteboard with lots of things written on it, and rewrite them in
smaller steps by still leabin all the surrounding text as is.