IBM has finalized its acquisition of HashiCorp, aiming to create a comprehensive, end-to-end hybrid cloud platform. This combination brings together IBM's existing hybrid cloud portfolio with HashiCorp's infrastructure automation tools, including Terraform, Vault, Consul, and Nomad. The goal is to provide clients with a streamlined experience for building, deploying, and managing applications across any environment, from on-premises data centers to multiple public clouds. This acquisition is intended to solidify IBM's position in the hybrid cloud market and accelerate the adoption of its hybrid cloud platform.
The frequently misattributed quote, "I think there is a world market for maybe five computers," is almost certainly not something Thomas Watson (Sr. or Jr.) of IBM ever said. While the exact origin remains elusive, the phrase likely emerged in the early days of computing as a reflection of the then-prevailing belief that computers were massive, expensive machines suitable only for government or large corporations. The story's persistence stems from its encapsulating the difficulty of predicting technological advancements and the dramatic evolution of computers from room-sized behemoths to ubiquitous personal devices. Various possible sources and similar quotes exist, but none definitively link the famous phrase to IBM or Watson.
Hacker News commenters discuss the often-misattributed quote about the limited market for computers. Several point out that the quote's origins are murky, with some suggesting it's a distortion of Howard Aiken's or Thomas Watson Sr.'s sentiments, while others link it to anecdotally attributed quotes in the early days of mainframe computing. Some highlight the difficulty of predicting technological adoption and the shifting definition of "computer" over time. One commenter mentions a similar misattribution regarding the market for automobiles, illustrating a broader pattern of underestimating transformative technologies. The overall sentiment reflects a shared understanding that such quotes, while entertaining, are often historically inaccurate and ultimately demonstrate the fallibility of early technological forecasting.
DOS APPEND, similar to the PATH command, allows you to specify directories where DOS should search for data files, not just executable files. This lets programs access data in various locations without needing full path specifications. It supports both drive letters and network paths, and offers options to search appended directories before the current directory or to treat appended directories as subdirectories of the current one. APPEND also provides commands to display the current appended directories and to remove them. This expands the functionality beyond the simple executable search of PATH, making data access more flexible.
Hacker News users discuss the DOS APPEND command, primarily focusing on its obscure nature and surprising functionality. Several commenters recall struggling with APPEND's unexpected behavior, particularly its ability to make files appear in directories where they don't physically exist. The discussion highlights the command's similarity to environment variables like PATH and LD_LIBRARY_PATH, with one user pointing out that it effectively extends the file search path for specific programs. Some comments mention the utility of APPEND for accessing data files across drives or directories without hardcoding paths, while others express their preference for more modern solutions. The overall sentiment suggests APPEND was a powerful but complex tool, often misunderstood and potentially problematic.
Summary of Comments ( 306 )
https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=43199256
HN commenters are largely skeptical of IBM's ability to successfully integrate HashiCorp, citing IBM's history of failed acquisitions and expressing concern that HashiCorp's open-source ethos will be eroded. Several predict a talent exodus from HashiCorp, and some anticipate a shift towards competing products like Pulumi, Ansible, and Terraform alternatives. Others question the strategic rationale behind the acquisition, suggesting IBM overpaid and may struggle to monetize HashiCorp's offerings. The potential for increased vendor lock-in and higher prices are also raised as concerns. A few commenters express a cautious hope that IBM might surprise them, but overall sentiment is negative.
The Hacker News post titled "IBM completes acquisition of HashiCorp" generated a significant number of comments discussing the implications of the acquisition. Many commenters express deep skepticism and concern about the future of HashiCorp's products and open-source commitment under IBM's ownership.
A recurring theme is the perceived cultural mismatch between IBM and HashiCorp, with several commenters citing IBM's history of acquiring and subsequently mismanaging or neglecting acquired companies and technologies. Some express worry that HashiCorp's agile and developer-focused culture will be stifled by IBM's corporate bureaucracy. The fear of rising costs, reduced innovation, and a shift away from open-source principles are frequently mentioned.
Several commenters draw parallels to IBM's previous acquisitions, such as Red Hat, and speculate whether HashiCorp will suffer a similar fate, with products becoming more enterprise-focused and less accessible to smaller businesses and individual developers. Concerns about potential feature stagnation, slower release cycles, and integration with IBM's existing ecosystem are also raised.
Some commenters express a sense of betrayal and disappointment, feeling that HashiCorp has abandoned its original mission and community. The possibility of developers migrating to alternative open-source tools is discussed, with some suggesting that this acquisition might create an opportunity for competitors to emerge.
While the majority of comments express negative sentiment, a few offer more neutral or even cautiously optimistic perspectives. Some suggest that IBM's resources could benefit HashiCorp by accelerating development and expanding its reach. However, even these comments are often tempered with reservations about IBM's track record with acquisitions.
A few commenters question the long-term strategic rationale behind the acquisition from both IBM and HashiCorp's perspectives. Some speculate about the potential financial pressures that might have led HashiCorp to agree to the acquisition.
Overall, the comments on Hacker News reflect a predominantly negative reaction to the acquisition, driven by concerns about the cultural clash between the two companies, the potential impact on HashiCorp's products and open-source commitment, and IBM's history with acquired companies.