Client/server confusion?

Posted Feb 14, 2012 21:53 UTC (Tue) by neilbrown (subscriber, #359)
In reply to: Client/server confusion? by Max.Hyre
Parent article: Wayland - Beyond X (The H)

I'm not really sure what you are defying me to do ... but I would expect to need more words to correct a misconception that to teach a new concept..

> the client is the process ``closest'' to the human
> The server is the process ``furthest'' from the human

This paints a very consumer-oriented view of computing. The human is just receiving services from something far away.

I don't see it that way. I want my device (in my hand even) to be providing services. I want my mail server, my file server, my media server, my git server all to run on my phone (with suitable backups of course, possibly on my wife's phone or in my freedom box) Then any old keyboard+screen could provide display and input services to my mobile-computing-device, and it could provide information services to me.

Both the client and the server are close to me - close enough that I can control them, not be controlled by them.