Joint releases to jolt open source: Shuttleworth

Linux World ^ | 03/07/2007 16:45:47 | Rodney Gedda, Computerworld

[N3WBI3]

Ubuntu Linux founder Mark Shuttleworth has declared more publicity would be generated for open source software if the three large desktop projects of KDE, GNOME, and OpenOffice.org agreed on a common and regular release cycle.

During his keynote address at this year's aKademy KDE conference in Glasgow, Scotland, Shuttleworth suggested that KDE move to a more predictable, preferably six-month, release schedule.

The rhythm and beat of publicity, according to Shuttleworth, would be a frightening prospect for proprietary competition.

KDE's blog editors said the comments "certainly prompted heated discussion, which is still going on".

With a significant release coming in the form of KDE 4 later this year, the KDE project is committing to a six-month release cycle but "who knows what the exciting future will bring", say the project's contributors.

Ubuntu Linux has become renowned for delivering a new version of its operating system every six months, a schedule which resulted in a lot of publicity for it in April with the release of 7.04 "Feisty Fawn".

In his presentation titled "13 Lessons for the Free Desktop", Shuttleworth spoke about the top challenges for the free desktop - from look and feel to licensing and collaboration.

He said differences in packaging open source software, while once meaningful, should now be consistent as differences are just barriers to broader adoption of the free desktop and lead to a lot of duplication and useless work.

With a new generation of mobile phones emerging, Shuttleworth believes interoperability with the latest digital cameras and multimedia devices is becoming more important.

Other emerging technologies the free desktop should foster are sensory immersion, real-time cooperation, and the 3D experience.

Shuttleworth also spoke about the challenge of keeping free software really "free".

He said he is highly committed to this freedom, both in the "gratis" and "libre" senses, and free software should be too.

[N3WBI3]

A bit of an older article but the first time I remember seeing it. Its an interesting idea but talk about herding cats. Three projects who have no common management and, probably, hundreds of developers having the same release cycle? I dont see this happening.

Still though its more likely than a unified desktop ;)

[N3WBI3]

OSS PING

If you are interested in the OSS ping list please mail me

[Golden Eagle]

“a frightening prospect for proprietary competition”

So this guy from Africa wants to put US proprietary software companies out of business just like green party moonbat Richard Stallman. Their “manifesto” calls for a “software tax” to pay for the “free” software too. I’ll pass.

[zeugma]

Herding cats would probably be easier.

I'm not entirely sure I want a 'unified desktop'. I like the fact that KDE and Gnome push each other along.

[Egon]

Wow. That was fast. No “In before GE”s on this thread.

[N3WBI3]

This is true, competition within OSS is a very good thing and the progress KDE has made over the past few years as the ui war between them and GNOME has heated up has made it my default desktop on systems that have a little more under the hood. I still go with XFCE on most systems and on the few bare bones systems I have one cant go wrong with FVWM (No, not FVWM2 ;)

Still I just dont see a unified release schedule happening it would be kind of neat but unless someone like shuttle worth wants to make it worth their wild I just don’t see Gnome / KDE getting together and saying yes we will release every six months on the first of the month. What happens if something get pushed for a few weeks?

[N3WBI3]

Yea, he seems to be stalking me today, maybe he misses the attention he used to get as I notice more and more folks filtering him out these days.

GE, Im pinging to you because I am talking about you but just os you know I wont see your replies so flame away oh troll lord..

[Golden Eagle]

The sooner people find out about green party moonbats like Stallman and Russian cosmonauts like Shuttleworth trying to destroy US companies that protect our intellectual property rather than give it away for free to communist governments, the better.

[DesScorp]

Shuttleworth is wrong on this. First, the problem with desktop Linux isn't that the various desktops don't release in sync....Microsoft and Apple have different release schedules, and it doesn't hurt them.

Second, 6 months is too fast for the end user. I'm an IT pro, and I don't want to have to deal with new desktop software every six months. Joe Q Public certainly doesn't want that. 18 to 24 months is far more realistic if you're going to truly make quality desktops with reasons to upgrade.

The more I think about it, what both KDE and the GNOME people should do is not make desktop software for all distros, but to make their own distros. A KDE distro, and a GNU OS (with GNOME as the sole desktop) I think would be more successful if the goal is to get more standardized unix-like desktops out there. Windows and OS X each have one desktop. The non-hacker likes the familiar. He doesn't care that you can install a dozen different GUIs. He wants to see one that he likes, and which acts in an easy to understand, consistent manner. A KDE OS, and a GNU OS would have more success in the long run I think.

[N3WBI3]

Shuttle worth is not proposing only one desktop he is proposing that they just release at the same time (like you I think 6 months is nuts! but maybe one year?). Micorsoft and Apple compete so they dont want to release on the same day you are going to buy one or the other but in getting one of them you reduce the resources you have to purchase the other. KDE and Gnome do not compete in that manner you can get both without reducing your resources so a big ol’ Today is the Day KDE, Gnome, and Openoffice come out is kind of neat just not practical.

Shuttleworth is not a developer and his believe three non related products can hit the same release date with any kind of efficiency shows it. Though if he puts his money behind it it could work.

Maybe he should sponsor two days a year as ‘OSS release days’ and donate to the projects if they have one of their major releases that day (KDE, GNOME, OpenOffice, Gimp, ....) It would require a steering committee to keep only projects that warrant the attention on the list of potential beneficiaries but it would be interesting.