Internetworkers: http://www.ibiblio.org/internetworkers/

[john AT radiomind.com (John Beimler)]

quotation from Michael S Czeiszperger <czei AT webperformanceinc.com> [on 010907 
12:58]::

> The next big thing to look at in terms of standards is .NET.

I suggest you look at things like XML-RPC[1] and SOAP[2], it has buy in from
both the Windows camps and Open Source groups. XML-RPC is simple (I've used it
on a few projects) and makes all the interfaces open. 

C#, and the CLR (common language runtime) are most definitely tied to Windows
[3][4], and Microsoft has been clear they will use their software patents to
protect that monopoly[5][6].

The easy way to open more of this up is to use the open interfaces provided
via SOAP or XML-RPC, then the users can run what they want to access the
"services."

regards

john

[1] http://www.xml-rpc.com/
[2] http://www.soapware.org/bdg
[3] http://davenet.userland.com/2001/08/31/microsoftsScriptingStrategy
[4] http://www.scripting.com/images/scriptingWorld2005smaller.gif
[5] http://linux.oreillynet.com/pub/a/linux/2001/08/09/oscon_panel.html?page=3
[6] http://linux.oreillynet.com/pub/a/linux/2001/08/09/oscon_panel.html?page=5