(Note: unlike the rest of this DEVCON update, this piece is written in first person singular, instead of the more editorial-style first person plural. This reflects the origin of the opinions expressed: they are mine personally, and I alone stand behind them.)
Bryan Green
Friday, October 18, 1996
Perestroika and Glasnost, ACI Style.
After attending DEVCON this year, it is clear to me that ACI is showing a good faith effort to be more open with us, the developers. This is different than the past. Although ACI surely never intended to be perceived as distant to our needs, it had somehow acquired that reputation. ACI was certainly not alone; Apple has for years and still continues to be famous for being aloof toward its developers. Both companies are trying to change, and I think that ACI is even leading Apple in this area. This trend toward openness reminded me of events in recent history.
In the J.W. Wiley Russian-English Dictionary, 1994 Ed., the definition of the word perestroika is:
perestroika: n. 1, rebuilding; reconstruction. 2, revision. 3, reorganization; restructuring.
In the same reference, the defintion of the word glasnost is:
glasnost: n.f. 1, publicity. 2, openness.
These two words have been made famous by former Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev in describing his country's difficult transition into a free-market economy. I think that they also characterize the changes in ACI: they are going through a restructuring, like the word perestroika; they are also becoming more public and open about themselves, like the word glasnost. Notice that the word glasnost is a feminine noun; I think this is significant.
The Three Most Significant Events of DEVCON.
From our perspective, the three most significant events at DEVCON were:
- Openness about past problems.
Many of the ACI staff were very open about recent difficulties the company has experienced. I believe it is true that the first step toward solving a problem is admitting that one exists; it is clear to me that ACI has taken this step.
- The plurality of the 4D Version 6 Development Team.
For years, the common perception among developers was that 4D was the product of one man. I think that in the early days this was true, but there were 10 developers introduced on stage at DEVCON. This is a great change in three ways:
The intellectual value of the product increases when the perspectives of other developers are added.
A team of developers can individually specialize, thus improving the quality of individual areas of the product.
The existence of the product does not solely depend on one person.
- The dual-platform emphasis.
With the introduction of 4D 3.5 last year, ACI made a successful technical transition to Windows while maintaining a superior development environment on the MacOS. This is no small feat! What other database development product can make this claim? There are other cross-platform database products, but they do not support the MacOS with the same grace and power as 4D.
Now with version 6, this MacOS-rich, cross-platform tradition continues: this is very significant. Although I believe ACI will never abandon their roots in the MacOS, the only frontier for expansion is the Windows market. ACI has set the pace by making a very good new version of 4D, and by making it the same on both platforms.
Toward the Future, or,
Ask Not What ACI Can Do for You, but What You Can Do for ACI.
Clearly, ACI is looking to us, its Developer Partners, to join them in developing the Windows market for 4th Dimension. For its class, 4th Dimension owns the MacOS database market; there is nowhere else to grow but the Windows market. Further, ACI cannot fully develop this market without our collective help. To paraphrase what Mme. Delbourg-Delphis said in her closing address, without significant systems implemented in 4th Dimension for Windows, ACI will not achieve any sort of significant penetration in the Windows market. I believe ACI will continue to make great software tools; it is up to us to use those tools to make great software.
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