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From: torek@horse.ee.lbl.gov (Chris Torek)
Newsgroups: comp.os.386bsd.questions,comp.os.386bsd.misc
Subject: Re: A merge of FreeBSD and NetBSD? (Another person's opinion)
Date: 13 Sep 1993 00:11:03 GMT
Organization: Lawrence Berkeley Laboratory, Berkeley CA
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Distribution: world
Message-ID: <33840@dog.ee.lbl.gov>
References: <MYCROFT.93Sep11213749@duality.gnu.ai.mit.edu> <haley.747858702@husc8> <kaleb.747863404@kanga.x.org>
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In article <kaleb.747863404@kanga.x.org> kaleb@expo.lcs.mit.edu
(Kaleb Keithley) writes:
>What this all boils down to is, it's way too early to talk about merging the
>varieties of <xxx>BSD. Or maybe you think the world would be a better place
>if we could go down to the CheChryForVolksRenVolvFiatToyDatHon dealer and
>buy a homogenousmobile?

Actually, the latter might well be true.  People like to talk about how
those outside the computing field work woth modular, interchangeable
parts (`stand on each other's shoulders') while those in computing work
with against each other (`stand on each other's toes').  This simply is
not true.  Just try buying a replacement window crank handle for your
car---assuming it has a crank handle.  Heck, if you want confusion,
look up the NEMA standards for power connectors.  Even once you pin
down the voltage and number of phases, there are still half a dozen
varieties to choose from. :-)  (There are good reasons for that, as
well as bad ones, but never mind that.)

We get in trouble when the competition/cooperation ratio gets too
seriously out of balance.  Too much competition leads to confusion and
incompatibility; too little leads to inflexible, insufficient, and/or
over-expensive systems.  The decisions people make as to how much
competition is `right' are partly a matter of taste, and there is
certainly a workable continuum.
-- 
In-Real-Life: Chris Torek, Lawrence Berkeley Lab CSE/EE (+1 510 486 5427)
Berkeley, CA		Domain:	torek@ee.lbl.gov