The Trouble with Software Patches [ACM Tech News]. So we have too many patches from too many sources on too many servers serving too many workstations. Pervasive computing should make this a lot more interesting with PDAs, cell phones, smart cards, and my gps/pulse meter implant.

Perhaps it is time to reconsider architectures that treat encapsulation as an afterthought. Neither UNIX nor xp look very good from this standpoint. Perhaps the flexibility that fast and loose use of the file system provides has a downside we really can't manage.

We are not about to write bug-free software. We need software architecture that allows changes without interaction between changes and/or between applications/components. I'd say start by rethinking operating systems, languages, and the trade-off between flexibility and reliability/maintainability. Perhaps there are issues more important than 'free & open' vs. Microsoft. Perhaps the UNIX family should retire. Perhaps some investment would be a good idea. (By investment, I don't mean patching XP.)