RELATIONSHIPS

How the user relates to the machine dictates what kind of applications and
what use you'll derive out of the
GeneralPurposeComputer.

Design a proprietary app-based system and you'll make a group of dependent
users, forever dependent on the corporation or individuals far away who
designed them, leaving the user feeling powerless.

Microsoft gives power to the user at a primitive level (file manipulation,
primitive inspection, complex registry), but most remains with the
corporation.

Design a simple, open system and you'll make a system of messy, unordered apps
that sometimes work, which despite the few sparkling gems will leave the user
feeling equally disempowered.

Unix gives half-the power to the user (config files), but the rest remains
with the app designers.

This system is designed to recognize the two of the main operating modes of
the computer: design and run. I've called this [Data Administrator] and
[Application User]. There are two other modes related to the computer: the
[Hardware Technician] and the [Systems Engineer], but these remain outside
the OS.