Hi All, Mike has a really good idea with the whole common kernel idea, but there is a small identity crisis. If we consider that Ensemble and SharpOS will become distros of the new MOSA kernel: it doesn't really make sense.
Firstly, MOSA does not mean CIL, it means Managed: so JNode/whatnot would be mutually excluded if we called the kernel MOSA kernel. Which brings me to my second point: Managed Operating System Alliance Kernel doesn't really make sense. The kernel should be [Insert Name Here] Kernel (MOSA Affiliated) or something like that. So in my opinion we should give the whole project it's own name, exactly like the Linux == Gentoo/Mandrake/Debian/Suse/etc idea. SharpOS and Ensemble should become distros (but I think they go beyond being just another distribution: but the concept is there). The problem is that we don't have a BDFL (like Linus), and with issues like these you may just get flame wars and stuff starting out. While a democracy works nicely, time and time again we have seen that it doesn't work too often with software projects: you always need a guy at the top who can aye, vito and bring down a hammer of justice of no remorse (Linus might have a questionable personality, but he does do this job extremely well). As far as the kernel goes I think we need a BDFL: so that we can grapple with issues such as naming (and hopefully side-step flaming). It looks like people such as Mike and Phil have the interests of all the projects in mind: my (humbled) opinion is that it should be one of them. However, there are people who have been around for much, much longer but have since slowed down in terms of interacting with the original project: would these people be insulted by the fact that they are not considered? For example, the instigator of the whole effort (I forget his name) has been MIA for ages now. Maybe he should be contacted as asked to designate a new BDFL? It's a hairy topic, but it will probably pay off to do this in the long run. Hopefully we don't get the same rivalry as the Linux distros do (I know I have been a major contributor to this rivalry, but hopefully my recent actions are showing that I am seeking to make ammends) and can all get along reasonably well. Sorry for rambling. -- Jonathan ------------------------------------------------------------------------- This SF.Net email is sponsored by the Moblin Your Move Developer's challenge Build the coolest Linux based applications with Moblin SDK & win great prizes Grand prize is a trip for two to an Open Source event anywhere in the world http://moblin-contest.org/redirect.php?banner_id=100&url=/ _______________________________________________ SharpOS-Developers mailing list SharpOS-Developers@lists.sourceforge.net https://lists.sourceforge.net/lists/listinfo/sharpos-developers
