The Workspot Blog

Network Applications

An obvious problem since the advent of browser-based applications -- the lack of an acceptable way to create true network applications -- something where the client-side could have a bit more juice than just HTML. Java applets were a glimpse in this direction -- but one of the reasons you don't see very many of them, is they just can't get very big without being unwieldy.

Macromedia Flash and the free SVG both address this problem too. Applications that download are another solution to the problem, but a difficult one, since it involves unique installation and update procedures for each application.

Frameworks, such as Microsoft's .NET and Sun's J2EE, are trying to address this problem with a comprehensive approach. Microsoft, with the largest installed user base, would seem poised to win the battle for the network application platform.

There's another potential contender: the Open Software Application Foundation's Chandler project. If this becomes a universal PIM, downloaded everywhere, taking parcels, with flexibility for user and application in storing information, then we have an application platform with some teeth.

So, now it's on our list: enable future Chandler users to synchronize data securely to their Workspot.

When they can't run Chandler natively, they can run it in a Workspot -- actually, you can do this now.

Chandler in a Workspot

Looking for the showcase

The Linux economy needs a boost, and I think there's a way Workspot could provide it.

Imagine an Online Showcase, where you can try, rent, buy or download, any Linux desktop or server software, environment, distro or hardware ... directly supporting the developers.

It could be a retail site, but not being Amazon-inclined, I'd much prefer it to be a kind of 'consumer reports' come to life.

I'd love to set up an initial working version of the Online Showcase. But unfortunately we don't have the funding yet to do more than the service you see here. VC's find us too small to fund. So we just have to continue to find subscribers, and slowly build out the showcase.

The free part of the showcase might look like this.

There'd be an equivalent ontology for logged-in Workspot users. They could also sign-up for the on-going focus group for an item they care about. They could evaluate changes online, in real time. The user could volunteer to have their session recorded for UI analysis. Programmers would have an audience. Users could vote on features and fixes. User-driven participatory democracy might create a real revolution in software!