Flash Is a Right

Ian Bogost's recent article Flash is Not a Right highlights some new aspects of the debate about Apple's iPhoneOS development restrictions. I have a different opinion. I understand Ian's pain as a teacher. Programmers who aren't curious, don't like to explore varied languages and paradigms, are doomed to rank-and-file roles. But this is secondary. The purpose of computing is to serve the needs of end users. But for this to happen, computing has to be a healthy industry: one that allows fair competition, rewards efficiency and quality - these core values of our economic regime, and the reason behind many consumer protection laws. Granted, not all platforms are like the PC; many require you to pay a developer fee, sign NDAs, adopt DRM technologies, abide to the vendor's certification and distribution channels, etc. These restrictions have been around since the dawn of computing, and developers generally don't have issues with reasonable terms. But I have no knowledge of a previous computing platform that would enforce the kinds of non-reasonable restrictions that Apple wants to enforce now. I'm not saying that Apple should help people to use their preferred tools. I'm not asking Apple to OEM-install Adobe Flash Player; it's their product and they deal the deck. But if that deck seems to have some deuces to me, I should be free to use my aces - as long as I put up with the effort and c...

Date: May, 08 2010
Url: http://www.java.net/blog/opinali/archive/2010/05/08/flash-right

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