“jbob” comments about how Java and Linux are a good fit for each other, and that better access to the internals of linux would make it even better. I definitely agree that Java and Linux are a good fit, but they are a good fit only because Java provides a platform independant abstraction. Providing access to the internals of linux from Java would remove the biggest advantage Java has over C/C++ because the code would no longer be portable. Ways to make Java programs look and act like either GNOME or KDE apps would be great (particularly if it’s done through the Swing L&F mechanism so it looks right on which ever desktop system you choose), but getting into the internals of Linux – just write it in C and get access to anything you want. One last thing:

Over at O’Reilly Chuck Toporek complains that iSync didn’t support the bluetooth phone he purchased. I think he’s pointing the blame in the wrong place. iSync supports the standard syncing protocol SyncML so it will work with any phone or device that also supports that standard which apparently Chuck’s phone doesn’t. So while I sympathize with Chuck for having bought what is for him a dud phone, I think it’s a bit much to expect Apple to do all the leg work to support every device under the Sun. Afterall, isn’t that exactly what open standards are meant to be for?

I really don’t like perl at this point in time. If anyone can explain why attempting to use the Google search webservice from within MT would return an error saying the file protocol is not understood, I’d love to hear about it. All the required modules for MT are properly installed as per their instructions and it’s still a no-go, despite the fact that it’s up and running fine on my internal server. Sigh, hopefully using CPAN to reinstall the modules in the default locations might help instead of having to install them in MT’s extlib directory by hand.

In the beginning there was chaos…. Nothing changes really. I’ve finally gotten around to putting a blog online, I’m not sure how long it will last but hopefully I’ll be doing enough interesting stuff this year that there’ll be something to blog about. I guess in the worst case I can just pester Iain from here instead of in his comments.