Comments on: My email to Torvalds, RMS http://eugenia.gnomefiles.org/2006/08/01/my-email-to-torvalds-rms/ Sat, 22 Nov 2008 09:37:45 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.2.2 By: Rick http://eugenia.gnomefiles.org/2006/08/01/my-email-to-torvalds-rms/#comment-3196 Rick Wed, 02 Aug 2006 11:49:00 +0000 http://eugenia.gnomefiles.org/2006/08/01/my-email-to-torvalds-rms/#comment-3196 It’s amazing that people that actually cared about a free Unix desktop having consumer appeal could have overlooked the fact that the GPL and no stable ABI would doom Linux. RedHat stopped caring about desktop Linux years ago. Novell should probably start worrying about where Linux matters and that’s the server. Or if they really want to make a go at it, put up a Solaris or FreeBSD distro. It’s amazing that people that actually cared about a free Unix desktop having consumer appeal could have overlooked the fact that the GPL and no stable ABI would doom Linux.

RedHat stopped caring about desktop Linux years ago. Novell should probably start worrying about where Linux matters and that’s the server.

Or if they really want to make a go at it, put up a Solaris or FreeBSD distro.

]]> By: KCorax http://eugenia.gnomefiles.org/2006/08/01/my-email-to-torvalds-rms/#comment-3195 KCorax Wed, 02 Aug 2006 10:51:00 +0000 http://eugenia.gnomefiles.org/2006/08/01/my-email-to-torvalds-rms/#comment-3195 You’re not listening: Xandros, Linspire, Mandriva pro, Suse pro. Paid-for distros *work* , they also tend to come with java/flash/drivers out of the box. When I buy a distro, I buy it as a product. If it’s supposed to sync evolution with my smartphone, or plug-and-play a graphics card, getting it to work is their problem not mine. You’re not listening: Xandros, Linspire, Mandriva pro, Suse pro. Paid-for distros *work* , they also tend to come with java/flash/drivers out of the box.

When I buy a distro, I buy it as a product. If it’s supposed to sync evolution with my smartphone, or plug-and-play a graphics card, getting it to work is their problem not mine.

]]> By: Rick http://eugenia.gnomefiles.org/2006/08/01/my-email-to-torvalds-rms/#comment-3194 Rick Wed, 02 Aug 2006 10:29:00 +0000 http://eugenia.gnomefiles.org/2006/08/01/my-email-to-torvalds-rms/#comment-3194 Forget about Linux ever being any kind of mainstream operating system. No stable API and the GPL has ensured that. If you really care about a free operating system that can cater to the consumer you might want to start looking at Solaris or a BSD. Forget about Linux ever being any kind of mainstream operating system. No stable API and the GPL has ensured that. If you really care about a free operating system that can cater to the consumer you might want to start looking at Solaris or a BSD.

]]> By: Ricardo Ramalho http://eugenia.gnomefiles.org/2006/08/01/my-email-to-torvalds-rms/#comment-3191 Ricardo Ramalho Wed, 02 Aug 2006 09:23:00 +0000 http://eugenia.gnomefiles.org/2006/08/01/my-email-to-torvalds-rms/#comment-3191 I would go even deeper into this question: the driver API. Whatever Linus thinks, I personally think that a stable API should exist and that installable binary drivers should also exist, in a “Win32 fashion”; whatever the kernel version is, the thing works. It should be that way! No, but Linux had to have these quirks, and people just stop using it. ATI/nVidia/Wireless drivers ring a bell? Is there a logical answer to this? Maybe a technical answer yes, but not a logical one for sure! In a user’s perspective, of course! In a perfect world everyone would write drivers for Linux and open them without a problem whatsoever, but this ain’t a perfect world. Eugenia, this was a really good argumentation from your part! <img src='http://eugenia.gnomefiles.org/images/smilies/icon_wink.gif' alt=';)' /> I would go even deeper into this question: the driver API. Whatever Linus thinks, I personally think that a stable API should exist and that installable binary drivers should also exist, in a “Win32 fashion”; whatever the kernel version is, the thing works. It should be that way! No, but Linux had to have these quirks, and people just stop using it. ATI/nVidia/Wireless drivers ring a bell?

Is there a logical answer to this? Maybe a technical answer yes, but not a logical one for sure! In a user’s perspective, of course!

In a perfect world everyone would write drivers for Linux and open them without a problem whatsoever, but this ain’t a perfect world.

Eugenia, this was a really good argumentation from your part! ;)

]]> By: Joseph http://eugenia.gnomefiles.org/2006/08/01/my-email-to-torvalds-rms/#comment-3190 Joseph Wed, 02 Aug 2006 09:16:00 +0000 http://eugenia.gnomefiles.org/2006/08/01/my-email-to-torvalds-rms/#comment-3190 Just assume it’s illegal <img src='http://eugenia.gnomefiles.org/images/smilies/icon_smile.gif' alt=':)' /> Always the safe bet. Just assume it’s illegal :)

Always the safe bet.

]]> By: Eugenia http://eugenia.gnomefiles.org/2006/08/01/my-email-to-torvalds-rms/#comment-3189 Eugenia Wed, 02 Aug 2006 09:10:00 +0000 http://eugenia.gnomefiles.org/2006/08/01/my-email-to-torvalds-rms/#comment-3189 In my case I only need to contact the copyright holder. My problem is with ALL distros (I don’t even use SuSE), so I gotta go to the source. And that’s what I did. In my case I only need to contact the copyright holder. My problem is with ALL distros (I don’t even use SuSE), so I gotta go to the source. And that’s what I did.

]]> By: Rob http://eugenia.gnomefiles.org/2006/08/01/my-email-to-torvalds-rms/#comment-3188 Rob Wed, 02 Aug 2006 08:31:00 +0000 http://eugenia.gnomefiles.org/2006/08/01/my-email-to-torvalds-rms/#comment-3188 Eugenia, imagine you’d own a Chrysler car with an engine from Mercedes. Who would you contact if you were unhappy with the engine? 1) Mercedes lead engine engineer 2) Mercedes headquater 3) Chrysler headquater 4) Local Chrysler dealer Go figure. Eugenia,

imagine you’d own a Chrysler car with an engine from Mercedes. Who would you contact if you were unhappy with the engine?
1) Mercedes lead engine engineer
2) Mercedes headquater
3) Chrysler headquater
4) Local Chrysler dealer
Go figure.

]]> By: Eugenia http://eugenia.gnomefiles.org/2006/08/01/my-email-to-torvalds-rms/#comment-3187 Eugenia Wed, 02 Aug 2006 07:12:00 +0000 http://eugenia.gnomefiles.org/2006/08/01/my-email-to-torvalds-rms/#comment-3187 He can’t do that. Others own code in the kernel that they would not want that. He would lose half the kernel and he would end up with an unworkable product if he does that. He can’t do that. Others own code in the kernel that they would not want that. He would lose half the kernel and he would end up with an unworkable product if he does that.

]]> By: Ludovic Hirlimann http://eugenia.gnomefiles.org/2006/08/01/my-email-to-torvalds-rms/#comment-3186 Ludovic Hirlimann Wed, 02 Aug 2006 07:10:00 +0000 http://eugenia.gnomefiles.org/2006/08/01/my-email-to-torvalds-rms/#comment-3186 There is a solution to that mess. (And Yes I know this could start a flame war , and it’s not my intention). Switch to some other free os distribution that has a clear licence : switch to the BSD familly. There is a solution to that mess. (And Yes I know this could start a flame war , and it’s not my intention). Switch to some other free os distribution that has a clear licence : switch to the BSD familly.

]]> By: KCorax http://eugenia.gnomefiles.org/2006/08/01/my-email-to-torvalds-rms/#comment-3193 KCorax Wed, 02 Aug 2006 05:13:00 +0000 http://eugenia.gnomefiles.org/2006/08/01/my-email-to-torvalds-rms/#comment-3193 > 4) Local Chrysler dealer > Go figure. (blah) > In my case I only need to contact the copyright holder. Not really. You get support from the vendor you bought it from (Xandros for me) or the forums of the distro (www.suseforums.net) for the rest of my machines. In part of SUSE it’s a smart move. I remind you this: > With LSB 3.0, the Free Standards Group, a non-profit > (blah) application binary interface (ABI) for C++, > which is supported by all Linux suppliers. They are effectively coercing the developers to rewrite kernel modules over the ABI if they want them to work. I’m really excited about this, maybe some day I’ll be able to install my nvidia drivers without cosnole->telinit 2 etc. > interface would slow down linux development. It would absolutely not do that. With some carefull design and a standardized public interface, only some intermediate hooks will have to change with each release. > 4) Local Chrysler dealer
> Go figure. (blah)
> In my case I only need to contact the copyright holder.

Not really. You get support from the vendor you bought it from (Xandros for me) or the forums of the distro (www.suseforums.net) for the rest of my machines.

In part of SUSE it’s a smart move. I remind you this:
> With LSB 3.0, the Free Standards Group, a non-profit
> (blah) application binary interface (ABI) for C++,
> which is supported by all Linux suppliers.

They are effectively coercing the developers to rewrite kernel modules over the ABI if they want them to work. I’m really excited about this, maybe some day I’ll be able to install my nvidia drivers without cosnole->telinit 2 etc.

> interface would slow down linux development.

It would absolutely not do that. With some carefull design and a standardized public interface, only some intermediate hooks will have to change with each release.

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