[tannhaeuser]

> I don't like the direction the big players are taking the internet

It's more like developers in large parts stopped caring for standards and looked after products and "big players" and "the next big thing" instead aka the consumerization of IT. Happened to SQL, browsers, middleware, network protocols, app servers, containers, programming and markup languages, and more.

Nowadays, big things come onto the scene and into developer's minds via obscene venture capital budgets.

[ZenoArrow]

In the case of SQL, I'd say the fragmentation happened because the standards weren't keeping pace with the types of improvements developers were looking for. Even the different RDBMS couldn't keep pace with all the trends, they've each focused on building up different strengths. We'll probably see a return to standards once the rate of innovation slows down.

[ranit]

> It's more like developers in large parts stopped caring for standards and looked after products and "big players"

This is not a recent phenomenon. For example, developers using (mostly) Microsoft tools on Windows have been doing it for decades already.

[thesagan]

An even better point than mine! Yes, developers (us) have enabled this situation, as well.

Drives home the point of why I need to move on and be careful where I put effort.