On Thu, 4 Jul 1996, attila wrote:
Addressed to: Black Unicorn <unicorn@schloss.li> Cypherpunks <cypherpunks@toad.com>
** Reply to note from Black Unicorn <unicorn@schloss.li> 07/03/96 10:17pm -0400
good "white paper."
modularity is the key. use of standardized encryption libraries permitting user selection of one or more formats.
Agreed.
message pools would be great from satellite channels --how do you regulate (read this as "pay for") since someone must receive the messages to uplink? -otherwise you have the dropouts of USENET.
I think that one of the faults of the mentality of development is that people think "who will pay" first, rather than making a hack first, and then trying to apply it to a more commercial context. Seems to have worked with PGP/Netscape/Yahoo/<insert startup high tech IPO here>.
user interface is the achilles heel for most programmers --the time is spent making the code 'work.' with the tools available which allow multi- platform development, the *functional* GUI should be done by someone who creates "artitstic" interfaces.
Concur.
I agree-- if encryption can be made so simple, and with a clean user interface, it will be used by joe sixpack (who rarely likes uncle, anyway --but for different reasons). once joe sixpack starts to use (probably dropping his private keys...), then it is too pervasive to stop --even if there are a few high level prosecutions.
Exactly.
one of our greatest failings v/v encryption as a group (including coderpunks) is we are satisfied with our access to encrytion. PGP is a nusiance, and the instructions are not clear --so we experiment until we get the results: on the command line.
Concur most strongly.
our satisfaction makes us insular; we need to think in global terms --mass marketing of a free product which will hold appeal for everyone. encryption is no different than the students in China --no, they do have it, but how long can Father Deng (and his successors) hang on against technology and quest for knowledge?
All most important questions to consider. I think if people begin to write modularly there will be nice front ends for almost everything.
-- Fuck off, Uncle Sam. Cyberspace is where democracy lives!