Alex wrote:
> Now... 2007 is upon us, and where does Linux stand? Red Hat has gone
> corporate, Novell has bought SuSE and is in bed with Microsoft, SCO
> still says they own the world, and the most popular distro of Linux,
> which from what I read is Ubuntu, just doesn't seem to be as fun or
> geeky to work with as Linux once was. Also what about the guys who
> made Linux what it is today? Stallman is seen as a quack, Torvalds is
> never seen anymore, and folks like Eric S Raymond, Bruce Perens, and
> others seem to have vanished. LUGs have turned into more like jam
> sessions for network admins then places for the everyday joe to learn
> about Linux. Even on IRC the mood is changed.
>
Whether these guys are around or "seen" is inconsequential to the success
that OSS enjoys today, and will continue to enjoy tomorrow. Afterall, the
"Revolution" has sparked and what follows is an unstopable movement. It
would not be very good if Open Source and Linux relied on the continuous
presence and toil of their fathers for innovation. This type of thinking
denies the ingenuity and contribution of the community at large that has
fueled this, our new digital society.
So, the fathers of the revolution will continue to live in history books,
maybe no longer seen and no longer heard, but it is up to us and our
children to sustain and grow OSS and Linux as a community.
Everyday Linux gets easier to understand for the average user as there are
groups devoted to fulfill this objective, and of course, Linux gets more
powerful and surprisingly innovative as time goes on, sometimes surpassing
the "BIG" developers; just look at xgl!
> I still love Linux, and I will continue to use it and advocate it as
> long as it's still open source, but I'm really scared to see where it
> stands in another 10 years.
In another 10 years, reasonable people hope that Microsoft will cease to
exist as a OS developer and stick to games. Linux will continue to innovate
and expand throughout the world rapidly.
> I love the culture which once thrived
> around this great operating system, and I hope there's still enough of
> that culture floating around so my kids can enjoy the love of Linux as
> I did and do.
The OSS/Linux culture continues to thrive. Your statement does not make
sense in the face of a healthy and growing platform that inches its way
into the mainstream like an enormous and glorious wildfire. This is not due
to "Corporate" heads, its due to the brilliant and expanding braintrust
that integrates daily into the culture you are (inexplicably) lamenting.
>
> Thanks for hearing me out. Also note, these are just my random thoughts
> and opinions, and I'm sure some will blast back for some reason... just
> take it for what it is.
>
> Alex
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http://www.vanwensveen.nl/rants/microsoft/IhateMS.html
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