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If authors published their Java source code on the Internet, and random casual visitors expected their own existing compiler to run it, you'd see the same compe
by inimino 9y ago
If authors published their Java source code on the Internet, and random casual visitors expected their own existing compiler to run it, you'd see the same competitive forces at work.
Now imagine most of those users don't know what a "compiler" is and are using the one that came with their OS.
Now imagine you are a competing compiler vendor who worked very hard to get some of those same users to install your compiler specifically.
And by the way, users expect the same compiler to compile all the projects and would be shocked and annoyed if they had to use different compilers for different code.
- zAy0LfpBZLC8mAC 9y agoYes, of course there is an explanation for the asshole behaviour of software vendors. That does not make it any better. Introducing and keeping unnecessary deviations from the standard in your software product creates massive costs for other parties in the long run (aka, externalities). Creating those costs in order to gain an advantage in the market is just the behaviour of an asshole.