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Why Linux Cannot Rule the World, Yet

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PCQ Bureau
New Update

World domination, even if lightly stated is one of the

stated ambitions of Linux. And in recent years, Linux has made enough progress

for many to think that world domination is indeed within reach.

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I beg to differ



I have worked on Linux for about ten years now. Ok. I have supervised work

on Linux for about ten years now. My teams here have worked on them, like most

people using Linux will never have. They have installed Linux on all sorts of

hardware, and made it work with other operating systems. We have even rolled out

our own distribution year after year, and believe me this last one, rolling out

the distribution is no easy job.

Krishna Kumar, Editor

One of the promises of OpenSource is that the code is there

for you to see, and modify. And that is easier said than done. Consider the

small example of Anaconda, the graphical installer used by most rpm based

distributions. Last year, we struggled to add an extra screen to the process,

and some how succeeded at the last minute. This year we tried and tried and

tried to change the font size in the Anaconda screens, and to centre align the

menu text; and failed miserably on both counts. We poured over every line of the

code, Googled all over the place and delved deep into libraries, and still

failed to find a way to make this simple change.

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Why?



Because Anaconda is developed by many different developers with completely

different ideas and capabilities, but with out a common base framework and

without proper documentation.

Every time a new version of the kernel or even a library

comes out, more than half applications one is using refuses to work and there is

no knowing if and when a new version is coming out. I have seen developers

answer-when I get the time-and can understand their compulsions. But then

don't expect me to use your application and help you achieve world domination.

Before you begin to think otherwise, I am not rubbishing

Linux or writing it off. I am not saying that it has no place in the larger

scheme of things. What I am saying is that Linux had reached a certain level by

following its current irreverent, devil may care, I am God attitude.

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But for it to move on from there, there is a need to bring

more method into the madness. There is a need to ensure that there is enough

documentation and understanding of the core processes of the software and how to

get it working. There is a need to bring in a minimum level of assuredness to

the user that the application will be there and will continue to be updated; and

that the updating will be coordinated with upgrades in major elements like the

kernel.

Some of you may be thinking that I am recommending the

corporatization or commercialization of Linux and OpenSource. I am not. I am

advocating more responsibility towards the user. More assurance to him that the

application will continue to exist and will be upgraded as other elements of the

Linux ecosystem get upgraded.

Today, all software vendors are open about the fact that

they are trying to learn from, and incorporate good practices, from the

OpenSource movement. There is no reason why the OpenSource movements should not

learn a few lessons from them, where necessary from them where necessary.

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