Google Chrome OS goes native (code)

The Register ^ | 24th December 2009 00:05 GMT | Cade Metz in San Francisco

[stripes1776]

Um, FYI, none of Google’s products are Open Source ...

You might want to read the GNU General License that Linux is written and distributed under. If Google is using Linux, they can't make the code private. It has to stay open source.

That license means that:

...any free program is threatened constantly by software patents. We wish to avoid the danger that redistributors of a free program will individually obtain patent licenses, in effect making the program proprietary. To prevent this, we have made it clear that any patent must be licensed for everyone's free use or not licensed at all.

In light of this, you may want to rephrase your comment.

[stripes1776]

Cisco's original IOS is based on the VMS that originally ran on the DEC PDP11/05 at Stanford University. That's where all of the original Cisco founders came from.

OK, it's some flavor of VMS. If I remember correctly, David Cutler invented VMS at DEC. Microsoft later hired Cutler to write Windows NT.

[Knitebane]

In light of this, you may want to rephrase your comment.

No problem. Here's my rephrase:

Google publishes most of it's code under an Open Source license as defined by the Open Source Initiative.

Most Google code is published under the Simplified BSD License which does allow the code to be used in a closed-source project.

Many of the Google-sponsored projects in the Google Summer of Code (and the changes made to Linux for things like the GoogleOS) are licensed under the GPL.

Better?

[Knitebane]

Here is a replacement shell for Linux that does the same thing as the Cisco shell. It makes your Linux box look just like a Cisco router. ;)

[MetaThought]

Which product are you talking about ?

If Google is distributing linux, they have to release the source code.

They do use linux, but AFAIK they haven't released the modifications.

[stripes1776]

Many of the Google-sponsored projects in the Google Summer of Code (and the changes made to Linux for things like the GoogleOS) are licensed under the GPL.
Better?

Yes, better. We strive for accuracy and truth on FR. Along with a bit of fun.

[isthisnickcool]

In the early 90's I was putting 20+ million record databases on SCO boxes. Using EISA motherboards and some of the first SCSI I/O cards. I ran across Linus in a chat group when he was working on his first kernels. He was/is a very smart guy and a good coder. Linux is a really wonderful OS. I have had Linux based servers that had multi-year uptimes and have never had a Linux server crash due to the OS.

google is using Linux, heck Apple uses a variant of BSD. All good stuff...

[stripes1776]

They do use linux, but AFAIK they haven't released the modifications.

Here is the link to the Chrome OS web site. You will find a link to the source code. Chrome is also open source.

Here is a nice explanation on YouTube.

[stripes1776]

Here is a replacement shell for Linux that does the same thing as the Cisco shell. It makes your Linux box look just like a Cisco router. ;)

Thanks for the link.