MySpace has launched a so-called "developer platform," allowing glorified Web designers to write widgets slightly more sophisticated than a photo slideshow for the News Corp.-owned website. I asked Ted Dziuba of the late, lamented Uncov what he thought. Here's what he said:

c++ standard library: developer platform
java with hibernate & struts: developer platform
ruby on rails: developer platform
myspace: not a developer platform

Exactly. But calling it a "platform" lets MySpace pitch itself as the next Microsoft, and its "developers" fancy themselves the next Linus Torvalds. It benefits everyone, except for real programmers who have to explain to their CEO why they don't have a platform, too.

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