The Penguin Ping.
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Got root?
Posted on 02/01/2004 5:42:12 PM PST by NCjim
Linux has long been the darling of highly-skilled programmers. But now, the program is going mainstream, reports technology correspondent Clark Boyd.
Major global computer companies are now embracing Linux. IBM, for one, is currently running a series of television and online ads proclaiming that the future is open, as in open source computing.
They have even enlisted author Kurt Vonnegut to help promote the open source ideal of sharing your computer code with others.
It is a far cry from the days when the only people who knew about Linux were a small community of zealous enthusiasts.
The interest from big companies is helping Linux programmers get the recognition they deserve.
"It's helping us get more appreciation from the rest of the world," said open source guru Bruce Perens.
"We are no longer isolated geeks making a system only we know is good. And I think there's a lot of benefit."
Modify and share
The Linux operating system was created more than a decade ago by Linus Torvalds, then just a student at the University of Helsinki in Finland.
Since then, the program has been further refined by programmers worldwide.
Linux is unique in that its code is open source, meaning anyone can look it and modify it, as long as they agree to share their changes with everyone else.
Large companies have been benefiting from Linux for years now. They use it to run large servers and networks.
The number one issue for many of these companies is money. Linux can be a low-cost alternative to other, proprietary operating systems like Microsoft Windows.
Because Linux is open source, it can be obtained for free, although most companies pay software developers for a package of Linux-based applications, including e-mail and word processing.
They also pay for customer support. But usually not near as much as they would pay to a proprietary vendor.
That is encouraging software developers around the world to make Linux-based products.
"I think the market is looking for an alternative to Microsoft," said Dan Wensley, from Net Integration Technologies in Ontario, Canada.
"Just being an alternative to Microsoft in a lot of markets globally will give you an opportunity.
"Today, business has adopted Linux as an alternative, and as a viable, sometimes better, sometimes as-good-as solution and we've seen it over last five to six years, develop into a real market and real opportunity and real saleable item," he said.
Saving money
Linux is also proving popular in the public sector. Governments like the idea of not paying a proprietary vendor huge licensing fees for years and years.
They also like the fact that open source software allows them to modify the code themselves.
"What we see happening in Europe is that governments are picking it up," said Marcel Hartog of Computer Associates.
"If you talk to governments, they're actually thinking - why don't we write open source software as well.
"So it's not just cost-based, but also the concept of open source software. They just like the idea of saving the people money, but also giving back to the people what they created."
The German city of Munich, for one, recently decided to move from Windows to Linux. Israel and Brazil have also begun initiatives to increase their use of open-source solutions.
Microsoft rival, Sun Microsystems, is currently working with the Chinese Government on open-source software development.
China wants to use Linux to create its own, home-grown software industry.
"If you spend a dollar with a local company working on Linux, that dollar stays in your economy," said Simon Phipps of Sun Microsystems.
"When you spend a dollar with a multi-national corporation as a license fee for a piece of software, that dollar leaves your country."
"It's about keeping the money in your local economy, developing skills and developing the local economy to be strong in its own right in a global context."
And that is why some think open-source could be the way of the future, especially for developing countries.
Dimo Calovksi, who works on development issues at the United Nations, believes open source could tap into the developing world's natural strengths.
"In order to be a good information technology professional, to be a developer, programmer, system administrator, one has to have a problem-solving mentality," he said.
"This is something that a lot of people in developing countries have. It is a natural for them to make do with little, and to produce something of value out of nothing."
Commercial waters
The majority of the Linux community is excited about how their creation is being put to use, both in business and in government.
Some worry, though, that large corporations may be reluctant to share their Linux-based software with others. And that, say long-time Linux programmers, would violate the tenets of the open source philosophy.
But open source proponent Eric Raymond says that most Linux programmers are happy to spread the gospel.
"In the last five or six years, we've had a new generation of advocates come out and go public, who are really much more comfortable with collaborating with markets and collaborating with corporations," he said.
"Because hackers are bright people, and they've figured out that if you want to change the world, one of the things you have to do is co-opt the people who write the big cheques."
Those cheques may soon be getting bigger.
At this year's recent LinuxWorld Expo in New Year, it was clear that corporations, governments and programmers are united by one goal - getting Linux onto as many personal computers around the globe as possible.
I already know I'm pretty. I use Linux. And I shook up the world! ;-)
Wanna be Penguified? Just holla!
Got root?
Founded thirty four seasons ago, the Houston Civic has had a two-fold purpose: to present great classical music to the Houston Community, and to provide a creative outlet for talented musicians. The members are engaged in a broad spectrum of professional occupations and share a common joy in performing great orchestral literature before appreciative audiences. All performances are free. |
I know what you mean. This here is the Colorado MahlerFest Orchestra.
If you can believe this, it's a volunteer orchestra, consisting of professional musicians who congregate in Boulder for a week each January purely for what they call "the love of great symphonic literature." They come from around Colorado and the nation.
I mean... who cares? What's with this Mahler guy? I'lll get on a plane and fly to Colorado when these guys learn how to play the Moody Blues.
Paradigm shift.
Knoppix boots from a CD and configures all hardware drivers, even on most laptops.
It runs from a RAM drive and a temporary virtual memory file on your hard drive, using empty space on the existing file system.
It even finds my TV tuner card automatically.
Plus, the Konqueror file browser automatically unzips archives.
I understood it perfectly. You wish to express your dissatisfaction with the performance of people who are volunteering their time to do something that they enjoy.
I had the same experience with these MahlerFest guys. They told me that they weren't going to play the Moody Blues just because I wanted them to. I warned them that this would forever condemn them to a niche existence, and they told me they understoood that. That's why they all have jobs as studio musicians in L.A. or Las Vegas playing show tunes and TV commercial jingles. The Mahler thing is what they do to impress each other in their spare time.
That is debate as an art form.
I don't know if I've ever seen a point made so artfully.
</hat's off>
And, once the beachhead is established in ServerWorld, it's only a matter of time before WorkstationWorld falls as well.
Even Linux admits Linux isn't ready for the general public desktop. It's moving, but it's not there yet.
Give me Windows' features with Linux's stability and light size and I'll be happy.
I think you just described a Mac, except for the light size.
Re: IBM's use of Linux: These are just some of IBM's Linux solutions.
IBM is committed to Linux. Imo it's all about profits and control.
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By the way, folks, on Friday, February 20th, the Houston Civic Symphony will be performing an all-Brahms program, including Symphony No. 3 in F Major, Op.90.