*BSD News Article 47101


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From: Jon Jenkins <jenkinsj@ozy.dec.com>
Newsgroups: comp.unix.bsd.freebsd.misc
Subject: Re: The Future of FreeBSD...
Date: 20 Jul 1995 22:19:00 GMT
Organization: Digital Equipment Corp
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I wont reply to the detail of this post but I will give
a completely subjective opinion of what FreeBSD needs
to survive and propser:

(GUI GUI GUI GUI GUI GUI )^100000000000000000000000000000

We could all learn something from MS Windows success.

An easy to use GUI X development tools ala Borlands Delphi
for Windows. This makes GUI development easy and quick.
Probably this would be based on Xview or Motif clone
maybe even Tcl/Tk but the next generation allowing users
to "drag n drop" user interfaces for X. This technology
is technically feasible with current tools and if done
properly would without a doubt become the industry
standard UNIX/X develpment tool.

With this tool the basics i.e make it easy 
to install with simple easy to use
graphical user interfaces for everthying from
network setup to system configuration to
file management to program development to ...,
are easy and simple to develop.

Once this happens the "hords" will take it form there
as they have with MS Windows and develop/port
all sorts of proggies to make life easier.

Contrary to both opinions I dont think 
FreeBSD needs to be bleeding edge to survive
in fact I think it would be its death nell
if all this "new technology" is introduced
without removing the archaic academic UNIX
philosophy "if it ain't hard to use it ain't
UNIX" which still pervades the UNIX mindset
of both academic and commercial thinking.

Jon


-- 
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Name:        Dr Jon Jenkins
Location:    Digital Equipment Corp, NaC, 
             Burnett Place, Research Park, 
             Bond University, Gold Coast
             QLD, AUSTRALIA 4229
Phone:       61-75-75-0151
Fax:         61-75-75-0100
Internet:    jenkinsj@ozy.dec.com
Close Proximity: "HEY YOU !!!"

The opinions expressed above are entirely personal and do not
reflect the corporate policy of DEC or the opinions of DEC management.
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