From mboxrd@z Thu Jan 1 00:00:00 1970 From: Jim Choate To: <9fans@cse.psu.edu> Subject: Re: [9fans] Plan 9 and PR In-Reply-To: <5e14e61cf2.61cf25e14e@rutgers.edu> Message-ID: MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: TEXT/PLAIN; charset=US-ASCII Date: Sun, 8 Feb 2004 10:46:32 -0600 Topicbox-Message-UUID: d1f19ab8-eacc-11e9-9e20-41e7f4b1d025 Hi Herbert, On Sun, 8 Feb 2004, Herbert B. Hancock wrote: > I wonder if Plan 9 is getting the exposure it deserves? I met with some people from IBM last week about a grid project and they weren't aware of the capabilites of Plan 9 for grid solutions. I'm setting up a grid between departments but unfortunately need to use Linux and the Globus Toolkit because of the applications. I have nothing against Linux or Globus but it seems to me that Plan 9 is ideal for such a project. I need to have some applications on the grid which I can't do with Plan 9. I'll even have to disguise Linux as Windows so the users won't think it's not too unfamiliar. > > On a better note, we published an article in Library Hi Tech vol. 21 no. 4, pp. 471-476 on Plan 9. At least we've introduced it to some librarians. No, it isn't. And this community is part of the problem. A major example is the 'discussion' over P9 being brain dead for single user -single machine- applications. They just don't get that the power of P9 is in -transcending- this model. That is the true power of P9. The seperation of where the output goes and where the work gets done at. It's a pity. Using P9 as a single user single machine solution is like using a Porche to open soup cans by running over them. It works but what a waste. I personaly believe their reticence about admitting their mistaken approach is that they don't want to admit they make a mistake. Typical. I've got a 'in' with the upcoming COMMON (ie IBM user group) meeting here in San Antonio. Among other things I hope to do a short presentation on P9 as well as talk on a panel regarding grid solutions. The week following that I'll be at the San Antonio College/SATLUG conference doing a similar presentation. I've also contacted First Lego League with regard to the "Blind and Haptic Computing SIG" we've created. The idea is to use Lego Mindstorms to allow blind developers to build and analyse robots. Among other things I hope to have get some info on their page about Styx-in-a-Box. When I worked at the LTC here in Austin I tried to talk to lower and middle management about it but they really don't think 'grid' computing is an answer. The general consensus I got was that it was smoke and mirrors. It was also pretty interesting to work for a company making Open Source software but prohibiting their employees from doing -any- outside work even if it was for Open Source. In the past I was asked on this list why I didn't program, IBM prohibited it and I hate laywers. So, I quite in August of last summer and I've been pursuing it since. Still trying to make it break even but we're getting closer and closer. You people ain't seen shit, yet. One of Hangar 18's goals is to put out a "Plan 9 bis" at some point. The idea will be to make it as easy for users to -use- as possible instead of making it targeted at 'developers'. I can say, that if -anyone- wants to do presentations or demonstrations on P9 at any of these events I'll do my best to support your efforts. The only caveat is that you've got to provide your own $$$. ps I'll also be providing tech support for the upcoming Texas Gaming Festival (www.txgf.com) next weekend. One of the things I hope I have time for is setting up a couple of P9 boxes to use for accessing techinal resources on the net. My hope is people will ask "What is that?". Several of the larger game related hardware manufacturers will be there. If I have time I hope to burn some CD's and give them away. -- -- Open Forge, LLC 24/365 Onsite Support for PCs, Networks, & Game Consoles 512-695-4126 (Austin, Tx.) help@open-forge.com irc.open-forge.com Hangar 18 Open Source Distributed Computing Using Plan 9 & Linux 512-451-7087 http://open-forge.org/hangar18 irc.open-forge.org James Choate 512-451-7087 ravage@ssz.com jchoate@open-forge.com