The Linux Foundation forms, issues call to arms

The open source community fired its latest shot over the bow of the SUSE-loving SS Microsoft today, announcing that the two leading bodies of Linux proponents -- the Open Source Development Labs and Free Standards Group -- have been folded into a new, seemingly corporate-sponsored organization that promises to "promote, protect, and standardize Linux." Christened The Linux Foundation, the new consortium will not develop or distribute any products, but instead is tasked with three primary objectives: to enable the independence of select developers by funding their work, while at the same time providing legal support and advice for members of the community; to act as a neutral forum for collaborative projects or for members to air their grievances; and to help Linux gain market share with respect to Windows. All of the commercial interests which previously belonged to the OSLD and FSG will also play a leading role in the newly-formed body, leading some critics to argue that it was actually heavy hitters like IBM, HP, Fujitsu, and Hitachi pushing for this merger in the hopes of growing the $14.5 billion infrastructure that has reportedly developed around Linux. Still, none other than Linus Torvalds himself has thrown his weight behind the foundation -- which now pays his salary, mind you -- suggesting that the original goals of the OSDL and FSG had largely been met at this point, and that standardization is a laudible pursuit. Both groups' memberships still need to approve the proposed merger, but if all goes according to plan, you can expect to see the LinFo begin its work sometime in early February.

Read- Press release [Via TG Daily]
Read- NY Times coverage [Via ZDNet]

[tekdroid @ Jan 22nd 2007 11:20PM]

I wish I knew more about how these standards bodies worked, and exactly how they're funded. As far as I can tell, a bunch of companies got together to try to standardise Linux to compete with focused, closed-source stuff. (so they can all benefit, obviously).

Linux does need focus, I'll give you that.

[oooh @ Jan 22nd 2007 11:22PM]

I'm confused...can someone make this a bit easier to understand what the bottomline is here? I feel ignorant, but then again...Education is a progressive discovery of our own ignorance. Will Durant US historian (1885 - 1981)

Edumacate me!

[CTG @ Jan 22nd 2007 11:29PM]

YEAH! Let's take these Microsloth bastards down!

Clinton-Biden in '08.

[Mike Cerm @ Jan 22nd 2007 11:42PM]

Maybe while they're establishing all of these "standards", they could standardize an easy way to install software in Linux. Every distro is different, and it's one of the many things that holding back Linux adoption.

Furthermore, they need to stop development on most of the smaller distros. I know, "that's the whole point of Linux," but I'd rather have 5 great Linux distros rather than the 200 crappy ones we have now.

[mitch @ Jan 22nd 2007 11:43PM]

Are there any restrictions on use of the picture of Tux with the rocket launcher? I'd like to use it.

[TechHelper22 @ Jan 23rd 2007 12:35AM]

Linux is just a front for IBM and HP and Google in their attack on Microsoft.

Follow the money.

[Timbobsteve @ Jan 23rd 2007 12:51AM]

They are actually already planning a standard API for all package management systems. What this will allow developers to do, is release GUI installers for applications (or just plain old packages) that will register the software/program installation with the host package manager, no matter what platform (apt/debian or yum/redhat). In other words, if I install VMWare Server with a GUI Installer (not that one exists at the moment) VMware will not only install the software in a nice way, it will also register it with apt/rpm/etc. so that I can easily remove it with my favorite package management application (Yum/Synaptic).

I think that a unified body to decide on linux standards is a great step forward for FOSS. As long as the 'governing' body remains open and transparent I am on board 100%.

[mike @ Jan 23rd 2007 1:09AM]

YEAH! Let's take these Microsloth bastards down!
--

Um so now you want a centralized representative... like.. Microsoft has?

I choose to not use Linux, it's fugly, clunky, too geeky, and nowhere near as slick as Leopard.

[Jason @ Jan 23rd 2007 1:30AM]

Heh, sounds cool

[Lokheed @ Jan 23rd 2007 1:50AM]

How you will control an open source community bent on freedom and difference is beyond me. The driving force behind Linux is the need to break down barriers and not be bound to any one way.

This results in a sea of like products that most invariably fizzle out or die because of lack of development. Code is written by "whomever" and because of the very nature of open source, accepted into upstream builds with minimal lack of testing.

The one component of Linux, the kernel, is heavily guarded by Linux et al., and amusingly enough remains solid; perhaps because it is heavily controlled.

Linux will not be viable till you get all heads of the hydra aiming the same way and tame the beast. If you do not accomplish those Herculean tasks, it will undoubtedly be something for the tech-savy, or the Zealot.

Brining it mainstream means you need to instill controls, and the open source community will fight that till their last breath as it is every they stand against.

[Kave @ Jan 23rd 2007 2:29AM]

@mike "I choose to not use Linux, it's fugly, clunky, too geeky, and nowhere near as slick as Leopard."

Fugly? Clunky? Have you ever used Gnome? It is just as slick a UI as any that Apple has come out with.

And the idea for the merger is great, but I can't say it will work well until I see it in action.

[applesucksLeo @ Jan 23rd 2007 3:47AM]

As much as I like(the idea of) Linux...
Zaurus anyone???

[markm @ Jan 23rd 2007 8:19AM]

"Fugly? Clunky? Have you ever used Gnome? It is just as slick a UI as any that Apple has come out with. "

It's his/her own opinion how can they be wrong?

[zargon @ Jan 23rd 2007 8:49AM]

While it may be an opinion, it is a opinion with no reasoning behind it.

Which leaves the opinion more open for questioning.

[disciple83 @ Jan 23rd 2007 9:32AM]

If this foundation is based on the open-source community, how can it fund open-source projects if they are free? Sounds like the blind leading the blind to me. Of course, I am not familiar with Linux at all, I tried once with a an early build of Suse and found it too difficult to install and use. Any type of input here would be helpful.

[Randavance @ Jan 23rd 2007 4:16PM]

I pledge allegiance, to my OS, of the united Linux Foundation. And to the open source, for which it stands, one kernel, running many, for freedom and and fairness for all.

[XGM @ Jan 23rd 2007 7:00PM]

Ive been using Linux for years. Heck it works better then the beta of Vista Ultimate that i have, and it wont cost me 400$