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Frigid but fun times in the open source world

Evan Liebovitch | January 16, 2001 12:00 AM PST

Summary

The new year starts with plenty of good news for Linux fans.

Topics

Linuxcare Inc., Microsoft Corp., Linux, UNIX, Open Source, Operating Systems, Software, Evan Liebovitch
Life is good for folks in the open-source world as we start the thirdmillennium--as long as you aren't the one shoveling your home's drivewaythis winter.

Stocks are back on the rise after bottoming out at New Year's. The 2.4kernel stream has been released, which means that we should start seeingproduction-quality versions seeping into the enterprise before summertime.Necessary consolidations are taking place, such as the planned merger ofLinuxcare and Turbolinux. Even Microsoft, most open sourcers' primarynemesis, is unwittingly making life easier for Linux advocates.

As far as the 2.4 kernel is concerned, I'm a little surprised that anyonewould have taken lastweek's column for Linux-bashing, as some folks did. Sheesh. I'm notdenying that 2.4 is chock-full of significant advances that promise toextend Linux's appeal beyond providing Internet infrastructure. It's justthat it's a little too early to celebrate.

Also, let's not forget that the kernel is only one part of what'sgenerally known as a Linux system, and a number of other core componentsare either due for significant updates or have already been updated.

The milestone I'm waiting for is the release of the firstcommercial distributions to combine production-quality releases of the 2.4kernel, glibc 2.2.1, gcc 2.95(maybe 3.0 if we're really lucky), XFree864.0.2, KDE2.1 (and probably the next release of GNOME). Witha little luck, all that should come together by mid-summer. Then itwill be time to celebrate because that will truly be a stellar combinationof software. (Besides, it's a lot more fun celebrating when the weather iswarmer.)

I'm personally pleased to hear about an event that will happen sooner thanthat: the planned marriageof Linuxcare and Turbolinux. A few months ago I visited the twocompanies, a short drive from each other in Silicon Valley, and I thinkthey complement each other well. Linuxcare's strength in North Americabalances Turbo's in Asia. Linuxcare's education services will be a greatboost to Turbo, which never quite got its training program off the ground.Linuxcare's consulting services complement Turbo's enterprise Linuxproducts. And Turbo will be able to use the support feedback and expertiseof Linuxcare to make its own Linux products even better.

There are only two flies in this ointment, not counting some likelylayoffs. One question mark is the effect this deal has on Turbo'snewly deepened relationship with IBM. Linuxcare services couldcertainly be seen as competition to IBM's main Linux revenue streams. Theother challenge will be for Linuxcare to maintain its reputation fordelivering distribution-neutral services while being so closely attachedto one of them.

Microsoft lends a hand
And while things couldn't be going any better for open source advocates,imagine my surprise at how even Microsoft is lending a helping hand to theLinux cause.

In a recent speech, Steve Ballmer recognized Linux as Microsoft'sbiggest threat. Indeed, he specifically called Linux a bigger threatthan Sun or Oracle; can Ellison's and McNealy's egos handle thedemotion?

Microsoft is also helping the free software cause through its escalatingfight against software piracy. The company is rumored to be includingproductactivation, a controversial type of anti-piracy measure, in futuresoftware releases. I've always taken the position that increasedanti-piracy efforts are a good thing for free software. Once upon a time,when Microsoft was more interested in dominance than maximizing revenue,it could tolerate illegal copies of its software as a promotional tool.That time has now passed.

Microsoft's move to clean up the pirates will steer more folks towardLinux. The more that companies are required to pay the cost of being fullylicensed (not to mention the cost of the associated self-auditing), themore they'll take a closer look at Linux and free softwarealternatives.

Even the recent turns of events regarding the U.S. antitrust case againstMicrosoft appear to be working in favor of Linux fans. More detail on thatnext week.

To sum up, we have rebounding stock prices, new goodies from thedevelopers, and even indirect help from our adversaries. What more couldone ask for? This will be a good season indeed. Now if only we had alittle less snow...

Do you think 2001 is starting off well for Linux? Tell Evan in theTalkBack below.

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