From mboxrd@z Thu Jan  1 00:00:00 1970
Message-ID: <9e4340ac5bc56c9b9472694cfb15e8c2@proxima.alt.za>
To: 9fans@9fans.net
Date: Mon, 25 Mar 2013 21:04:59 +0200
From: lucio@proxima.alt.za
In-Reply-To: <20130325164531.GA8743@intma.in>
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Subject: Re: [9fans] gcc not an option for Plan9
Topicbox-Message-UUID: 3571fd5c-ead8-11e9-9d60-3106f5b1d025

> I know that the population of 9fans contains a sizeable percentage of
> people who would like to cast Plan 9 in amber, to hold it immutable as
> an example to future generations.  That's an unrealistic expectation.

Maybe, but maybe that's the best we can do, given that the conditions
that gave rise to Plan 9 have long ceased to exist and are unlikely to
recur.  A version of Plan 9 untainted by the predominance of the Intel
and Windows philosophies is needed to reminds us of how things could
have turned out.

But it is all much more complex than a mailing list could possibly
track.  Since the 1970s, it is clear that technology has taken a
number of quantum leaps that could have landed in different places and
all the missed opportunities, good and bad, need to be recorded as
well as explored because we sure as hell are not in the best of all
possible futures, right now.  Unless you're some virtual entity such
as Microsoft, Intel, Google or Facebook and could not care less about
the fate of individuals.

Oops, that's probably a bit rambly, but I think most observers will
understand.

++L