Re: [9fans] Ideas from Plan-9

[erik quanstrom <quanstro@quanstro.net>]

> I, respectfully, disagree.  The end purpose of any OS, platform, or program
> is to perform some sort of function.  That end function is called an app.

the distinction between the os an application is illusionary.  redefineing terms
a little bit doesn't clear anything up.

what an os allows one to accomplish may also be meta.  trying new ideas out
is certanly useful even if it doesn't result in something useful.

>  An app can be targeted at a programmer or a dumb user. The underlying
> environment (including tools) determines the available facilities a
> programmer has in order to construct said app.  Unix brings far, far better
> facilities for the programmer than does Window for the construction and
> operation of an app.

[citation needed]

> If I am not going to build an app of some sort or another, what is the
> value of Plan-9?  Am I just going to spend all day playing with the cool
> ideas with no end or purpose in mind?

your caricature is actually a pretty good use for plan 9.  there's nothing
illegitimate about research.  but not knowing what you're doing doesn't
mean fooling around all day.

but more directly to the point, plan 9 is a excellent platform for building
products.  i've been involved in building a number of plan 9 products, and
imho the work would have been much harder with the other oses i'm familiar
with.

- erik