[Desktop_architects] Portland: The LinuxDesktopIntegrationInterface

[Brooks, Phil]

> What is the problem you are facing as an ISV(*)?
Version skew is a problem that I face, but at least I understand it and
I think my customer understands it.  It can also limit the things I can
use in that my customers will generally require that I support some very
old version of OS that they still have lying around.  Your point here is
well taken, I don't have to be limited by the fact that I am building on
an old version of the OS in order to prevent disruption of my customer
environments. I can use the protocol to find out if a particular feature
is available or not.

Phil

-----Original Message-----
From: desktop_architects-bounces at lists.osdl.org
[mailto:desktop_architects-bounces at lists.osdl.org] On Behalf Of Martin
Konold
Sent: Monday, December 05, 2005 10:28 AM
To: desktop_architects at lists.osdl.org
Subject: Re: [Desktop_architects] Portland: The
LinuxDesktopIntegrationInterface

Am Montag, 5. Dezember 2005 18:24 schrieb Brooks, Phil:

Hi Phil,

> That isn't the same as a binary choice that turns
> functionality on or off depending upon decisions that you make when
> installing completely up to date software.

Please elaborate a bit more. 

What is the problem you are facing as an ISV(*)?

To answer the imho very valid point about version skew. I think that we
shall 
turn our solution which differs from Microsoft technology into a
strength. 
Only by providing an alternative to MS instead of a copy we have imho a 
chance to compete by innovation. 

Due to the fact that we use a protocol instead of binary linking we can
_much_ 
easier provide dynamic adaptability, backwards and forward
compatibility.

E.g. whenever the File_Open Dialog improves on the desktop your
application 
can benefit from it without relying on the new version being available
on 
every desktop of your customers. 

IMHO the architecture of Portland will be a significant advantage for 
deployments of the Linux Desktop compared to legacy Windows technology 
offerings. 

Regards,
-- martin
(*) In order to be able to help you I need a question like "How can I
disable 
the screensaver while showing a presentation full screen in my 
application?"(**) not "When will you drop either GNOME or KDE and
standardize 
on a single software stack so that I can link to libfoo using function
bar?"

(**) as noticed during the talks as the DAM this is an urgently needed 
feature ;-)

-- 
http://www.erfrakon.com/
Erlewein, Frank, Konold & Partner - Beratende Ingenieure und Physiker