"Karl Hergenrother" said:
>This is interesting reading on a subject which is a common thread on this
>list. Be sure to read some of the TalkBack messages included at the
bottom
>of the reference. I don't expect many to agree with the conclusions, but
I
>think that there are many valid points.
>
>http://cgi.zdnet.com/slink?/adeskb/adt0614/2774791:10151455
>
>
One fundamental problem with all these stories is they talk about the "Linux
Community" and what the "Linux Community" should do. Two fundamental problems with
this:
1. Unlike Windows, each and every piece of a "Linux distribution" is separate. The
kernel is NOT the desktop environment is NOT the browser is NOT the web-server . . .
So, the folks working on the kernel are NOT the folks working on the browser are NOT
the folks working on the desktop . . . (yes, I know there is some overlap, like Alan
Cox working on both the kernel & GNOME, but it's pretty accurate).
2. Unlike commercial companies, where the programmer works on what he is paid to work
on, and priorities are set by the higher ups, we operate in the bazaar model. Each
programmer works on what he / she WANTS to work on. Thus, if you told, say Havoc
Pennington of GNOME to quit working on that and work on kernel VM stuff, he'd probably
tell you what you can do with your suggestion, and keep working on GNOME. And there's
nothing you can do about it.
Bottom line on all this is that there is NO unified "Linux Community" that you can
tell what to do. Some look at this as a weakness of Linux. Actually, it's the
strength (read Cathedral & Bazaar). You want something out of Open Source software?
Find the folks with that interest & build it. You can make it what YOU WANT. The
folks working on making Linux great on the desktop are not the ones working on making
it a great server. They're working on the desktop because THAT'S WHAT THEY WANT!
And, as a result, Open Source will win BECAUSE each works on his/her desire, with the
result that the whole expands faster, because it attracts more developers, because
each can do what he / she wants . . .
jeff
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Jeffry Smith Technical Sales Consultant Mission Critical Linux
[EMAIL PROTECTED] phone:603.930.9739 fax:978.446.9470
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Thought for today: alt bit /awlt bit/ [from alternate] adj.
See meta bit.
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