The second round of Unity talks between the two opposing Unix factions are faring much better than the ill-fated first bout, although actual unity is unlikely to result, at least in the short term, Maureen O’Gara writes from New York. Unix System Laboratories Inc and the Open Software Foundation look to be headed towards their first puff on the proverbial peace pipe at the Destiny desktop Unix launch on June 16. The Software Foundation, presumably in the person of its chief David Tory, is scheduled to be there. It is believed he and Unix Labs president Roel Pieper, the two heroes of the day, will unveil a joint working relationship, presumably focused on the Architecture-Neutral Distribution Format, signalling the end of the Unix wars. The occasion, now set for the Trustees’ Auditorium at the de Young Museum in Golden Gate Park, San Francisco, will be one of sound bites and photo opportunities. The industry will be standing by and trying to gauge from the heartiness of the handshakes and the sincerity of the smiles whether the hatchet really is being buried or whether it’s merely a Christmas truce. In this climate, a down-home bear hug and attendant back-slapping probably wouldn’t go amiss. Santa Cruz Operation Inc, which seems to want to move to Unix System V.4 now if the price is right, is said to be anxious to attend the Destiny launch. Computer Associates International Inc and Lotus Development Corp are likely add their endorsements. Whether IBM Corp, Digital Equipment Corp, Hewlett-Packard Co and Apple Computer Inc will be sending envoys in a show of solidarity remained to be seen at the end of last week. Observers including International Data Corp’s David Smith believe that of the big three, Hewlett is the most likely to make a move because unity plays to its hand, something he says is not the case with either IBM or DEC – but then why did Hewlett-Packard align with the Unix wrecking gang in the first place?
