| RIP: Community Linux (1991-2007) |
Mar. 28, 2007
The idea that Linux is primarily a community-based project based on the work of thousands of independent, idealist hackers died a quiet death at home on March 27.
The proximate cause of death was the Linux Foundation's naming of its new board of directors. This leading non-profit Linux organization's board included many Fortune 500 executives from around the world -- but not one representative from a purely community-based Linux organization.
Linux, as a community project, had been in ill health for some time. One recent setback was the crippling of Debian. Rather than work together on releasing the next version, Etch, of this core community of Linux developers has seemingly slowed their work down to a crawl because of internal disputes.
As Debian's father, Ian Murdock, observed, not long before moving to Sun, Debian had become a project where the process had run amok. Thus, Murdock said, "no leader feels empowered to make decisions unless everyone agrees with him. And since no one as the size of the organization grows ever agrees on anything, no decisions ever get made."
Another Community Linux project, Fedora, was to be freed from Red Hat, its corporate sponsor. In the end, though, the company decided that the project would remain under Red Hat control. Fedora's management was to have gone to the Fedora Foundation.
It wasn't just ailing projects, however, that brought Community Linux to its untimely end. Linux distributors have long been turning away from the idealistic notions of a completely free software distribution.
Linspire took the biggest step by introducing its Freespire distribution, which aims to include legal support for every proprietary format and program that is available to Linux. Examples include: MP3, DVD, Windows Media, QuickTime, Java, Flash, Real media, ATI and NVIDA graphic drivers, Win-modem drivers, proprietary WiFi drivers, Bitstream fonts, and more.
Eric S. Raymond, Linux's godfather with his important early support for the operating system, agreed whole-heartily with the concept of supporting necessary proprietary software in Linux and even joined Freespire's Leadership Board. Raymond said, "If that means paying licensing fees to the Microsofts of the world so that people can watch Windows media files, then so be it."
Ubuntu, the most popular of the Community Linuxes, remains directed by Mark Shuttleworth and his company, Canonical, and he too has conceded that Ubuntu must include "proprietary drivers [that]... are required to enable essential hardware functionality."
Attempts to bring Community Linux back to free software ways have met with very limited success. There are only a handful of free-software-only Linux distributions such as gNewSense.
The Community Linux leaves behind a robust, successful family of Commercial Linux operating system children, including: oldest son, Red Hat; step-son, Novell; and desktop daughters, Linspire, Ubuntu, and Xandros. Corporate relatives, such as IBM, HP, and Oracle, aim to make certain that Commercial Linux, as opposed to Community Linux, will have a long, healthy life.
-- Steven J. Vaughan-Nichols
Do you have comments on this story?
Talkback here
NOTE: Please post your comments regarding our articles using the above link. Be sure to use this article's title as the "Subject" in your posts. Before you create a new thread, please check to see if a discussion thread is already running on the article you plan to comment on. Thanks!
(Click here for further information)
|
|
|
7 Advantages of D2D Backup
For decades, tape has been the backup medium of choice. But, now, disk-to-disk (D2D) backup is gaining in favor. Learn why you should make the move in this whitepaper.
4 Legal Reasons to Control Internet Access
The Internet is obviously a valuable resource for many organizations. However, many are exposed to legal liability concerns because they fail to control Internet access. Learn if you're safe in this white paper.
Rapidly Resolve J2EE Application Problems
Whether you are in the process of building J2EE applications or have J2EE applications already running in production, you must ensure that they deliver the expected ROI. Learn how in this white paper.
Load Testing 2.0 for Web 2.0
There are many unknowns in stress testing Web 2.0 applications. Find out how to test the performance of Web 2.0 in this white paper.
Build Better Games Online
For the game infrastructure providers, life is complex. Making money from games has become more complicated. Why? Find out in this white paper.
Building a Virtual Infrastructure from Servers to Storage
This white paper discusses the virtual storage solutions that reduce cost, increase storage utilization, and address the challenges of backing up and restoring Server environments.
Gaining Faster Wireless Connections with WiMAX
Welcome to what is quickly becoming the hyperconnected world where anything that would benefit from being connected to the network will be connected. Learn more in this white paper.
Is Your Desktop a Security Threat?
The new wave of sophisticated crimeware not only targets specific companies, but also targets desktops and laptops as backdoor entryways into those business’ operations and resources. Learn how to stay safe in this white paper.
Increasing SAN Reliability by 100 Percent
Storage area networks (SAN) are a strong part of storage plans. Learn how to increase your reliability and uptime by 100 percent in this case study.
|
|
|
|
|
news feed