Re: [Auth]The simplest thing that can possibly work

[Norbert Bollow]

Ron Burk <address@hidden> wrote:

> The only reason Passport has not already won the server-side
> installed base war is that it requires an SDK. A web page flunky
> cannot single-handedly start using Passport -- they have to get
> help/permission from an administrator. If dotGNU starts
> out with similar requirements, good luck ever catching up. If you
> want to do something grand, you better do something really
> simple and useful ASAP to get your foot in the door, IMO.

Ron makes a very important point here.  The quick-and-dirty
first incarnation of DotGNU Virtual Identities must be something
where the server-side component can be set up without any
assistence from the server administrator.

*Many* business websites are operated on hosting services where
the company which operates the server will never install DotGNU
server-side softwhere before there is overwhelming demand from
customers.

PLEASE, for the next few weeks everyone on this list should work
together on implementing the kind of simple system that Ron is
talking about.  That is the purpose for which this list has been
created.  (Having some discussions of more complicated long-term 
plans is not wrong, but please let's keep them low volume, so
that they don't get into the way of implementing the quick-and-dirty
Passport replacement.)

Greetings, Norbert.

-- 
Norbert Bollow, Weidlistr.18, CH-8624 Gruet  (near Zurich, Switzerland)
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> 
> Forget about making something cool enough to impress
> other geeks. Forget about trying to attract the support of
> ISPs. If you can create something that wins the hearts
> (and logon pages) of web page flunkies, then you win.
> Create a solution that they can't unilaterally decide to
> use with no outside help/permission, and you have a
> real tough slog with dubious chance of victory.
> 
> >3. When you say "personal information", what are you thinking of? Data that
> >normally gets stored in cookies?
> 
> I'm thinking of what customers *actually do today*.
> This would doubtless grow over time (again, I like to get
> customers and grow with them instead of trying to forecast
> everything in advance). Here's the simplest information users
> have to supply to web sites over and over: account name,
> password, name, billing address, shipping address, credit
> card numbers. Much more is possible, but this covers
> 95% of the personal information that real users *currently*
> need from a single logon system. Again, what most real users
> need today is pretty simple.
> 
> My viewpoint is probably affected by having spent some
> time during the last few years helping real people
> learn to use computers. This is where the remaining
> growth in computer usage is -- they aren't making new
> geeks very fast. It is a humbling experience to have
> someone point out all the needless complexities and
> idiotic contradictions in software that I simply could
> not detect any more after years of usage. Just as
> Microsoft has consistently overestimated programmers'
> ability to move to new technology, I believe they are
> overestimating users' abilities to embrace more
> complex web technology. My Dad is never, never
> going to use any Passport technology beyond the
> simple single logon feature. In truth, he will never
> even use that feature unless he buys a newer
> computer that forces it on him. It's exactly
> the same story with every other non-geek I
> know who has started using computers in the
> last few years. That's the reality I see in the
> marketplace, and that's why I believe the really
> simple solution is the most important to execute
> right now.
> 
> 
> Ron Burk
> Windows Developer's Journal, www.wdj.com
> 
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