Re: Check this out. iSeries Access for Linux!!

> If they are writing it in Java, why couldn't they do it on all platforms.
> That is the point of their Eclipse platform.  Even if they write it in C,
> they can still do it.

Except that when you add the WDSc plugins to Eclipse, you find out that
not only are the WDSc portions not open source, but they also call Windows
DLLs as backends, and therefore it only runs on Windows.

I can compile and run Eclipse on FreeBSD, but I can't use the iSeries
stuff, which is all I really want Eclipse for, anyway.


> Don't go too hard on them.  It is first release.

Bear in mind that I'm one of the developers of the open-source TN5250
that Buck was referring to...   Don't be too shocked if I tout it's
advantages over IBM's stuff. :)


> It's a nice proof of concept that they are going to support non Windows
> PCs.  Again, give them time, it is apparently first release.  I am sure
> they want to test the waters before they throw more development into it.

I'm glad they're working on diversifying, so that they don't have to force
everyone to run Windows.

But, the difference between running things on Debian vs. RedHat is largely
just a recompile.  The difference between FreeBSD vs. Linux is largely
just a recompile.  Mac OS X was based on FreeBSD, and again is largely
just a recompile.

If the source were available, the "first release" would've been available
to everyone instead of just Linux (possibly just RedHat!) users.

It's something to think about.