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The Phenomena
Linux is a Unix-like operating system that has truly taken the computing
community by a storm. Thousands of developers world-wide are challenged by
the opportunity to enhance the product, thus making Linux the most reliable
and fastest evolving operating system ever seen. Analysts currently
estimate between eight and twelve million users world-wide.
Market Trend
Research shows remarkable statistics pointing to a rapid acceptance of the
Linux operating system. According to International Data Corp. (IDC),
shipments of Linux for server use have shown a growth rate of over 200% in
1998.
Gartner Group estimates that about 14% of business sites currently use
Linux. Gartner points out that Linux is most popular with Internet Service
Providers (ISPs), universities, government and scientific-organizations.
According to Intenet Operating System Counter 9/1998, Linux is the server
platform leader running on 26.3% of the world
?s web servers.
Mainstream Backing
For Linux to be accepted in large mainstream IT shops, it is necessary to
address the key issue of software support. Companies such as Red Hat, Suse
and Caldera are handling this concern. They provide an assortment of
services that include documentation and support that is not available with
the free downloads of the software. Intel and Netscape have shown their
commitment by investing in Red Hat last year. Compaq, IBM, Novell and
Oracle have now followed with further investments in Red Hat.
It seems like every day another major corporation adds its name to the list
of supporters of the Linux platform. The impressive list now includes such
big names as HP, Silicon Graphics, Apple Computer Inc. IBM, Compaq, Sun
Microsystems Inc., Dell Computer Inc., as well as database vendors: Oracle
Corp., Informix, Sybase and Computer Associates. Also the big ERP vendors
are moving to Linux with SAP leading the way.
Even Microsft has been caught admitting to this new competitor. The
research that shows favorable comparisons of Linux over NT, surely can?t be
ignored.
Magic?s Relevance
Obviously the success of an operating system is ultimately measured and
directly tied to the applications that run on the platform. Magic Software
Enterprises realizes the need of the software developers in the Linux
community for an enterprise development tool that will enable building of
business applications.
MSE has endorsed the Linux operating system and is providing a version of
the Magic software development environment on Linux in order to enable
building of robust business applications that take advantage of the web.
MSE?s strategic focus on the e-commerce market supports the deployment of
business applications over the web in complex heterogeneous environments.
MSE has always been an advocate of open systems and has thus designed the
Magic engine to be easily portable to a variety of operating systems. The
Magic tool currently runs on a wide set of platforms including all the
major Unix platforms. The Unix expertise is readily available in MSE, which
ensures the required support for Magic?s Linux version.
Magic will continue to embrace heterogeneous environments and emerging
technologies thus enabling building of robust web-enabled business
applications.
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