Path: utzoo!utgpu!jarvis.csri.toronto.edu!mailrus!tut.cis.ohio-state.edu!ucbvax!decwrl!hplabs!hp-pcd!hpcvlx!ben
From: ben@hpcvlx.HP.COM (Benjamin Ellsworth)
Newsgroups: comp.windows.x
Subject: Re: What number of windows is reasonable?
Message-ID: <100920046@hpcvlx.HP.COM>
Date: 6 Feb 89 19:38:55 GMT
References: <690@acorn.co.uk>
Organization: Hewlett-Packard Co., Corvallis, OR, USA
Lines: 43


> Yes, surely.  I was attempting to refer to the more generic aspects 
> of the gadget design (which DEC did first)...

"First" is an interesting concept, but of little or no meaning in our
industry when the difference between first and second is only a few
months.  If you wish to assert that DEC was first, I am willing to 
plead "no contest" in order to avoid this debate turning into a round
of one-upmanship (can you say "piss fight?").

> ... not the particular aspects of whether gadgets have full or partial
> resources, or whether or not all composites support gadgets.

I designed and wrote a good deal of the HP gadgets (although I must
admit another engineer was heading that project), I have the DEC code 
in front of me.  The differences in design and implementation between
HP and DEC are a good deal more involved than you allude.  However, in 
a minimalist sense, a "windowless widget" is a "windowless widget"
("parts is parts?" ;-).

> Credit where credit is due (which is not to say that HP doesn't 
> deserve some).

Agreed.  I in no way wish to depreciate the gadgets that DEC did.  They
address the need in an effective manner.  An interestig debate
(although impossible in a public forum due to the confidentiality of
the information) could ensue over which implementation is "better." I'm
sure that OSF had such a debate, and right or wrong, their decision was
in favor of the HP design.  I mentioned OSF not to smear of DEC, but
rather to establish some credibility of our design (you, and your 
messages, provide DEC's credibility).

To restate, DEC has working gadgets, DEC may even have had them a
few months ahead of HP.  I feel to dispute none of this.  It is the
idea that DEC has pre-eminence in gadget technology that I take issue
with.

-----
Ben

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