[cap-talk] "Immutable Law" #1 is alive and well at Microsoft

[Jed Donnelley]

At 10:23 PM 10/4/2007, Mark Miller wrote:
>On 10/4/07, Jed Donnelley <jed at nersc.gov> wrote:
> > Of course the "Law" applies to general Windows, Mac,
> > and Unix users.  Just not to CapDesk, Plash, Polaris,
> > and the like users (not to mention the historical
> > capability systems).
>
>My point is that this law also doesn't apply to Javascript running in
>the normal browser sandbox. No improvements to the status quo are
>needed or relevant to show the bogosity of this law.

I think most people don't really consider Javascript running
in a normal browser sandbox as running a 'program'.  It is
to be sure, but I think what is being referred to in the
"immutable" first Law is launching an application under
the OS.

You can say, "Look, I can show that the MS first Law
is bogus - just look at this Javascript from a 'bad
guy' running safely on my computer."  They would say,
"That's all well and good, but what about my running a
real application on my system?"

I believe that is what is being referred to in
the Slashdot discussion that ?!ng noted.  That is
what CapDesk, Polaris, and Plash try to fix I
believe.  If this problem could be addressed by simply
running programs as Javascript under a browser, why
bother with systems like Polaris or Plash?

--Jed  http://www.webstart.com/jed-signature.html