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From: raney@yertle.Colorado.EDU (Scott Raney)
Newsgroups: comp.windows.x
Subject: Re: GUI WARS!
Message-ID: <1991Mar1.210030.26900@csn.org>
Date: 1 Mar 91 21:00:30 GMT
References: <22979@hydra.gatech.EDU> <1991Feb28.003512.9980@dsd.es.com> <6362@auspex.auspex.com>
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In response to the comment that Motif and Open Look are not windowing
systems and should be able to run on vanilla X, I must point out that
it may not be as simple as that.  One thing that has bitten me a
number of times is that both Open Look and Motif require parts that
are not included in the base X.  For example, Open Look requires a
special glyph font to draw its rounded-rectangle buttons. If the font
isn't loaded in the server, the app won't run (I've run into this
several times, and usually the machines are controlled by different
departments so nothing can be done about it.).  Motif requires a
special file to remap keysyms.  Again, if you don't have it you'll
have problems.

With 20-20 hindsight, it seems to me the problem is due to MIT's "no
policy" philosophy.  In my opinion these problems, which are getting
worse every day, could have been avoided had MIT not been so reluctant
to take a stand.  I don't really think it matters which look and feel
is used, what is important that it be the same everywhere.  But it's
too late now.  The best examples of standards are those that are de
facto, and not the result of long commercial battles, or long
reviewing periods by standards organizations.

The take home lesson: when producing a new product, especially one
that requires a new technology, don't be timid about specifying the
interfaces and annointing them as the standard.  Even if you make
mistakes, and parts must be redone, the community of users will be
better off in the long run.



-- 
======================================================================
Scott Raney                            No other person or organization
raney@gabor.colorado.edu               can be held responsible for my
(303)499-9855                                opinions or actions