SVID

[Chang]

In article <226 at ofc.Columbia.NCR.COM>, rogers at ofc.Columbia.NCR.COM (H. L. Rogers) writes:
> In article <1275 at sfmag.UUCP> der at sfmag.UUCP (D.Rorke) writes:
> >                                          Applications written
> >to issue n of the interface [SVID] will continue work properly on
> >a system which conforms to issue n + 1 (or any subsequent issue)
> >subject to a specific evolution mechanism.

> Does this not, *by definition*, limit technical advancement by
> constraining new technology with *all* *old* technology?  You
....
> saving previous investments, etc.; just trying to find out if others
> see this as a technical handcuff.
> -- 
> HL Rogers    (hl.rogers at ncrcae.Columbia.NCR.COM)

By your definition, yes, it is a technical handcuff, if you think
restrain from changing user interface is a technical handcuff.

In the software business one can adapt any new technology INSIDE
one's software but you never ever change your user interface, you
just add new parts to it but by any means avoid modifying the
current interface. Think about it, SVID is the user interface of
UNIX(R) System V by definition.


Fangli Chang

If every new issue of SVID is like MVS to DOS, it is not technical
wise, it is suicidal.