3 ms·

Every piece of software we write is built on the back of someone else. We're all vulnerable to the whims of the people who build the operating systems, the bro

by adriand 16y ago

Every piece of software we write is built on the back of someone else. We're all vulnerable to the whims of the people who build the operating systems, the browsers, heck, even the protocols. The important question probably comes down to ability and motive: "can this platform be turned against me, and do those who control it gain some advantage from doing so?"

spencerfry 16y ago
You're taking it too for to the extreme. Building on top of a browser or an operating system is a proven and solid model. Building on top of another software company, web app, etc., is a whole different ballgame. Web browsers aren't going to turn against you. Other companies can.
- senko 16y ago
  However, those browsers or operating systems are written by companies. See Apple and iPhone OS for a recent example. Building on top of anything is risky unless the platform (whatever that be - OS, Facebook, Twitter) provider gives you some guarantees (and you have enough trust in them that they will stick to those guarantees). If you build your app on top of someone's service and the terms of use say "we reserve the right to change anything", it's like loading a shotgun, giving it to the service provider, and hoping they'll be nice to you. If you don't/can't accept that risk, don't build on top of them.
- steveklabnik 16y ago
  Maybe this is just my programmer mentality of making abstract connections between things, but is building on top of another software company's platform really all that new? What makes an operating system platform different than a web platform, other than the fact that OSes have been around much longer? Any business needs to mitigate risks, and I'm not trying to downplay that. You can see this with Zynga and Facebook, for example. At the same time, you have to remember that the platform is also a business, too. Platforms don't have a business without customers to build on top of them.
- deleted 16y ago
  [deleted]
- natrius 16y ago
  > Building on top of a browser or an operating system is a proven and solid model. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Netscape#History http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Netscape#History Microsoft's entire corporate history is full of incidents like Twitter's new policies. Building on top of browsers sounds safer than the Microsoft/Netscape scenario until you consider the possibility that the browser vendor might launch a competitor and use the browser to promote it (e.g. MPEG LA vs. Google/WebM).
pedalpete 16y ago
Your thinking is correct, though I agree with spencerfry that you are taking this a bit too far to prove the point. However, there is nothing wrong with building a business and relying on another service to provide key functionality. When people say 'built on the back', I am visualizing that like an elephant with a bunch of people riding on its back. Don't be amazed when the elephant changes direction and you get bumped off. If you can find a way to harness the skill and capabilities of the elephant, then do that. If you can help the elephant and yourself at the same time, you could be the next summize. So, I would urge peole to leverage apis and platforms, but maybe don't build your business solely trying to get a piece of somebody elses action.
shadowsun7 16y ago
This is a rather interesting question to ask. Why does developing for an operating system - OSX, say - feel better than developing for Facebook (e.g.: the Zynga/FB relationship you mentioned)? The only good answer I can come up with, at the moment, is that OSX has been around for longer, and there are plenty of successful apps on the platform to date - which shows that it can be done.

by adriand 16y ago

spencerfry 16y ago

You're taking it too for to the extreme. Building on top of a browser or an operating system is a proven and solid model. Building on top of another software company, web app, etc., is a whole different ballgame. Web browsers aren't going to turn against you. Other companies can.

senko 16y ago
However, those browsers or operating systems are written by companies. See Apple and iPhone OS for a recent example. Building on top of anything is risky unless the platform (whatever that be - OS, Facebook, Twitter) provider gives you some guarantees (and you have enough trust in them that they will stick to those guarantees). If you build your app on top of someone's service and the terms of use say "we reserve the right to change anything", it's like loading a shotgun, giving it to the service provider, and hoping they'll be nice to you. If you don't/can't accept that risk, don't build on top of them.
steveklabnik 16y ago
Maybe this is just my programmer mentality of making abstract connections between things, but is building on top of another software company's platform really all that new? What makes an operating system platform different than a web platform, other than the fact that OSes have been around much longer? Any business needs to mitigate risks, and I'm not trying to downplay that. You can see this with Zynga and Facebook, for example. At the same time, you have to remember that the platform is also a business, too. Platforms don't have a business without customers to build on top of them.
deleted 16y ago
[deleted]
natrius 16y ago
> Building on top of a browser or an operating system is a proven and solid model. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Netscape#History http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Netscape#History Microsoft's entire corporate history is full of incidents like Twitter's new policies. Building on top of browsers sounds safer than the Microsoft/Netscape scenario until you consider the possibility that the browser vendor might launch a competitor and use the browser to promote it (e.g. MPEG LA vs. Google/WebM).

pedalpete 16y ago

Your thinking is correct, though I agree with spencerfry that you are taking this a bit too far to prove the point. However, there is nothing wrong with building a business and relying on another service to provide key functionality. When people say 'built on the back', I am visualizing that like an elephant with a bunch of people riding on its back. Don't be amazed when the elephant changes direction and you get bumped off. If you can find a way to harness the skill and capabilities of the elephant, then do that. If you can help the elephant and yourself at the same time, you could be the next summize. So, I would urge peole to leverage apis and platforms, but maybe don't build your business solely trying to get a piece of somebody elses action.

shadowsun7 16y ago

This is a rather interesting question to ask. Why does developing for an operating system - OSX, say - feel better than developing for Facebook (e.g.: the Zynga/FB relationship you mentioned)? The only good answer I can come up with, at the moment, is that OSX has been around for longer, and there are plenty of successful apps on the platform to date - which shows that it can be done.