Date: Thu, 06 Jul 2000 10:44:17 -0600 From: Brett Glass <brett@lariat.org> To: Narvi <narvi@haldjas.folklore.ee>, Dann Lunsford <dann@greycat.com> Cc: chat@FreeBSD.ORG, advocacy@FreeBSD.ORG Subject: No port of Opera? (Was: ((FreeBSD : Linux) :: (OS/2 : Windows))) Message-ID: <4.3.2.7.2.20000706103005.00e05660@localhost>
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I was just in communication with the developers of Opera this morning, and it appears that the presence of Linux emulation in FreeBSD is likely to cost us a native port of this superior browser and e-mail client. According to an employee of Opera software, >Just talked with Darren [their lead developer for UNIX] who said he >doesn't have the time to make native FREEBSD at the moment, and since the >Linux emulation version work so damn well this is not a priority. In short, we're likely to be stuck running Opera, and other similar products, under a (GPLed!) emulator *forever*, with little or no hope of a native port. And if Linux ever pulls the rug out from under the emulator by adding or changing APIs (Microsoft did this to OS/2's Windows emulation), we're hosed altogether. I've said it before, and I'll say it again: The correct strategy is not to emulate a competitive OS, *ever*. Rather, create an emulation of your *own* API that runs on *their* platform. (This is the strategy that Java took, and it's no wonder that it got Microsoft so scared; it works!) Putting an emulator on *their* platform increases the value of coding to your API, whereas emulating their API decreases it. There are only three things that can be done NOW to prevent virtually every commercial software developer from using the emulator instead of porting to FreeBSD: 1) In the case of Opera, lobby like crazy for a native port, assuring them that we'll buy lots of copies but will *not* buy a Linux version. If possible, volunteer labor. There's *still* no guarantee that we will ever get a port, but it's certainly worth a shot. 2) To solve the more general problem, start working on a FreeBSD API emulator for Linux. It won't have to be GPLed (so that we won't have to produce GPLed code as with the Linux emulation), and it will be easier to maintain than the current emulator. Port the same emulation layer to other UNIX-like OSes, including Solaris and the other open source BSDs. 3) Once the FreeBSD API is established as a general-purpose API for UNIX-like OSes, drop the Linux emulation for good. --Brett Glass To Unsubscribe: send mail to majordomo@FreeBSD.org with "unsubscribe freebsd-advocacy" in the body of the message
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