bookrebus Chapter 92 Larry King Live Show
Chapter 92 Larry King Live Show
The studio lights were blazing, and the camera's red shutter was on. Larry King, wearing his signature overalls, sat at one side of the table, adjusted his black-rimmed glasses, and looked at the young man opposite him. Ling Yun, dressed in a dark gray Zhongshan suit, sat upright, his expression calm.
"Good evening, welcome to Larry King Live. Tonight's guest is a warrior who is trying to forge his own path in a field dominated by giants. He is Ling Yun, the founder of Star Systems Corporation. Mr. Ling, welcome." Larry King spoke very quickly.
"Thank you, Larry. It's a pleasure to be here." Ling Yun nodded slightly.
"Let's get straight to the point." Larry King looked at the card in his hand, then looked directly at Ling Yun. "Microsoft, the god of the software industry. Its Windows system runs on over ninety percent of the world's computers. And you, and your Star System, are challenging it. Many people say this is... suicidal. Do you agree?"
"Competing in the business world isn't suicide, Larry," Ling Yun replied calmly. "It's a choice. We've chosen a different technological path, a more open direction, more focused on the internet. As for the outcome, the market will decide."
"Different paths?" Larry King leaned forward. "Your system kernel is open source, which means anyone can view and modify your code. Microsoft's Windows, on the other hand, is closed; it's their most core asset. Aren't you worried that this will put you at a competitive disadvantage? Or, as some analysts have suggested, is there a risk of 'open source license pollution' that could embroil your company in legal disputes?"
"Open source doesn't mean losing our advantages." Ling Yun shook his head. "On the contrary, it belongs to the world's best programmers. Everyone can contribute to the Starry Sky System, discovering and fixing vulnerabilities. This collective wisdom and power is unmatched by any closed company. As for legal risks, we have a strict kernel code review mechanism to ensure that every line of code complies with the open source license. Fear stems from the unknown, and open source is about putting everything under the sun."
Larry King didn't dwell on it, quickly moving on to the next pointed question: "Let's talk reality. Your system is open source, so how will the company make a profit? How can a company that can't make a profit survive? Or are you going to use open source to seize the market now, and then start charging once you have a user base?"
Larry King's trap was a bit too simplistic. Ling Yun smiled slightly: "StarCraft is always open source and free. Our profit model mainly involves enterprise customization. StarCraft is a modular system with a small kernel that can be tailored and ported to various hardware. It's not just for computers; in the future, it will also be used in televisions, audio-visual equipment, mobile devices, and so on."
"You can imagine a future where computers are at the core, paired with peripheral devices, and with digitalization and the internet, digital products will permeate every aspect of everyone's life. Ten years is enough to realize this."
Larry King immediately changed the subject: "The future may be bright, but reality is harsh. Microsoft has almost unlimited resources, a huge user base, and a strong alliance of partners."
"I understand that they recently launched a series of programs targeting developers and, through certain channels, expressed concerns about the 'long-term survivability' of the Star System. Frankly, Mr. Ling, what are the chances that your company, your system, will survive this unequal war? Do you foresee... the possibility of its premature demise?"
The studio was very quiet, with only the faint sound of the cameras running. It was an extremely direct, even somewhat brutal, question.
Ling Yun paused for two seconds, not avoiding Larry King's gaze, and answered frankly, "Very large. Microsoft's power is undeniable. Xingchen is a startup, and we are facing an extremely difficult battle. Funding, channels, ecosystem—we are at a complete disadvantage in every aspect. Yes, I foresaw that Xingchen might fail, that the Xingchen system might not become mainstream in the market, and that it might even become unsustainable at some point. This is the reality of business, and I cannot deny it."
His candor surprised Larry King, and caused a slight stir among the audience. Typically, guests would vehemently emphasize their strengths and unwavering confidence.
“That’s very frank,” Larry King commented, then followed up with, “So, if, as you say, StarCraft might fail, why are you still persisting? Is it to prove a point? Or is it simply because you refuse to bow down to Bill Gates?”
"I persist because I believe in the future I see." Ling Yun's voice rose slightly, carrying an undeniable conviction. "Larry, you ask me who will win this operating system war? If I were in the position of Starry Sky Corporation's CEO, I must admit that our chances of winning are very small."
He shifted his tone, his gaze seemingly piercing through the lens to look towards the distant future: "However, if I stand on a longer time horizon, from the perspective of the history of technological development—I might lose, but the stars will not."
"What do you mean?" Larry King pressed. "If the company fails and the system disappears, how can you say 'we won't lose'?"
"Because open source, sharing, and collaboration are the major global trends." Ling Yun's tone became firm and powerful. "Especially with the arrival of the internet age. Larry, think about it, in the future, it won't be tens of millions, but billions of people connected through the internet, communicating, collaborating, entertaining, and creating! The world is becoming more and more open, more and more flat, and more and more free. Information barriers are being broken down."
He paused briefly to allow the audience to process his words before continuing, "In the face of this overwhelming tide of the times, any attempt to monopolize information and technology through closure, control, or the creation of self-centered gardens is unsustainable. They may enjoy temporary glory, but they will ultimately be eroded and replaced by forces that are more open, freer, and more in line with the spirit of the internet."
"The Star System is merely a concrete practitioner and explorer within this grand trend," Ling Yun concluded, his voice steady. "Even if Star Corporation collapses, our commitment to open source, the code we contributed, and the technological directions we explored have become part of this trend. They will remain on the internet, inherited, improved, and carried forward by others. Today there is one Star, and tomorrow there may be many more 'Stars' shining in every corner of the world. Closed systems may win battles, but open ideas will ultimately win wars."
Larry King stared at Ling Yun, remaining silent for several seconds, seemingly processing this somewhat futuristic statement. Finally, he slowly spoke: "So, you mean, your perspective on this competition transcends the success or failure of companies and products, and is instead a... clash of ideologies?"
"That's one way to understand it," Ling Yun nodded. "We're fighting for a possibility for the future. Even if we fall, we'll fall on the path to that more open future. And that path won't disappear because of our fall; it will only become clearer because of our exploration."
The interview ended in a slightly somber atmosphere. Ling Yun did not offer any confident pronouncements of victory, but instead frankly acknowledged the possibility of failure. However, he elevated this competition to the level of ideals and contemporary trends, giving a different meaning to a potential business failure.
As the studio lights dimmed, Larry King walked over and shook hands with Ling Yun: "A very unique perspective, Mr. Ling. Good luck."
"Thank you, Larry," Ling Yun replied with a smile.
He knew that this interview would not change Microsoft's overwhelming advantage, but it might plant a seed of openness and the future in some people's hearts.