|
|
Multi-platform leapfrog software serve no oneDouglas E. WelchPC Week, Nov 30, 1992 v9 n48 p91(1) COPYRIGHT Ziff-Davis Publishing Company 1992
There are very few companies today that have the luxury of standardizing on one hardware platform. Most companies have a combination of different computers and operating systems. In order to compete effectively, these companies need software that looks the same and operates the same way on all their computer platforms. Unfortunately, developers have not worked out the finer points of multiplatform software. While some companies have taken an interest in producing multiplatform software, they have developed some bad habits that reduce and sometimes nullify its benefits. It is now common to see the software for platform X contain features that software for platform Y does not have, even though the software is supposed to operate the same way. All versions must maintain some sense of functional parity. Otherwise this "version leapfrog" affects productivity, angers users and hurts the vendor's bottom line. Working in a multiplatform environment requires that users be able to easily pass data between their computers without having to worry about file formats and nonexistent features. Data will be shared only if it is easy to do so. The main goal of multiplatform software should always be the easy transfer of data. What use is a LAN if data files can't be easily shared between workstations? Even small differences, such as missing or partially implemented features, have an effect on productivity. Users must constantly create workarounds for problems that should have been foreseen and corrected by the software manufacturer. In some cases, the incompatibilities are so bad that users end up rekeying data because it is faster than relying on the software. Well-designed software allows users to easily move to different jobs or other departments (with different computer platforms) without losing the knowledge they have gained about a particular product. Learning a new operating system is hard enough; they shouldn't be forced to relearn software they already know. It is also in the software vendor's best interest to maintain equality across systems. Software that solves business problems regardless of platform will make a company much less likely to switch to the hot, new product announced by a competitor. Manufacturers can also reduce costs. One set of manuals and help files can be designed to work for all versions of the program. Platform purists might be dismayed at having to read Windows keystrokes when they are working on a Macintosh, but that's a small price to pay for software parity. The best way to provide the highest-quality software is to develop core software that contains the main functionality of the program. Platform-specific items are then built around this core technology. This approach ensures that only a small portion of the program will need to be localized for each platform. Once this core code is complete, enhancements can be easily added for all platforms at the same time instead of in the current leapfrog manner. Hardware platforms will continue to be diverse. The company that serves its customers best by providing parity between software on all platforms will gain customer loyalty. Those companies that continue to play software leapfrog may find themselves leaping right out of the market.
Douglas E. Welch is a support analyst for a major entertainment company in southern California.
|