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Knowledge Builds on Knowledge, Part I

© Larry Williams

So, for a good part of the 80s and 90s, the Client-Server computing model skyrocketed at the expense of the mainframe model. As the Client-Server model skyrocketed, so did the stocks of its 3 main advocates: Microsoft, Intel, and 3Com.

Now for the paradox. In his book "The Road Ahead", Bill Gates said that he envisions a new computing model whereby clients will access information stored on large computers with "massive" databases at its core. In other words: centralized computing... and back to the mainframe model. Bill Gates made his statements when the Internet was taking off and his assessment was based on the current Internet model.

People who are anti-Microsoft, using Bill Gates' own words, will tell you that Microsoft's model of Client-Server model will be replaced by centralized computing once again-- Larry Ellison of Oracle Corp. is one of them. Last year he introduced the NC (Netwrok Computer) concept to replace the PC, but the idea never panned out.

If you look at how the Internet works, you'll see that there's reason to believe that we're heading back to the mainframe model-- currently with millions of servers on the Internet serving requests for hundreds and hundreds of millions of clients. This has lead some critics to predict the demise of Microsoft, with Sun's Java and all. These critics are probably the same ones who have been short-selling Microsoft stocks since the early 90s. They are not a happy bunch.

Also, Java is a development platform, which comes in many flavours. For example, you have Java scripting for the server-side and Java scripting (JScript) for the CLIENT-side. Now, coming soon to a website/appliance near you: Jini, a cousin to Java.

Now, if you're a webmaster or Internet developer and you've developed a website, you'll know that there are 2 kinds of scripting: Server-side scripting and CLIENT-side scripting. Now, if you're developing a website and you're thinking about the CLIENT, what are the chances of that CLIENT running Windows?... The chances are either 8/10 or 9/10 that the client on the other side will be running Windows, depending on what poll you go with. Notice that when you create client-scripts, that script is processed on the client (the person using the computer to connect to your website). True, that the client has a choice of browsers, but the OS will predominantly be Windows.

What does this have to do with certification & learning? If you had a choice, stick with these tools-- learn to use them-- for the time being: