Comments on: An important step forward for Linux standards http://ianmurdock.com/linux/an-important-step-forward-for-linux-standards/ on emerging platforms and the power of aggregation and integration Fri, 23 Oct 2009 23:28:31 -0700 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.1 By: Joshua Kwan http://ianmurdock.com/linux/an-important-step-forward-for-linux-standards/comment-page-1/#comment-95 Joshua Kwan Tue, 30 Nov 1999 00:00:00 +0000 http://ianmurdock.com/wp/?p=144#comment-95 [OT] You should upload discover. [OT]

You should upload discover.

]]> By: J http://ianmurdock.com/linux/an-important-step-forward-for-linux-standards/comment-page-1/#comment-96 J Tue, 30 Nov 1999 00:00:00 +0000 http://ianmurdock.com/wp/?p=144#comment-96 It took me a while to realize the point of all this, but now that I finally get it I find it incredibly pointless. The only purpose of the LSB, LCC, and similar "binary standards" is to make it easier for third-parties to provide binary software that works on more than one distribution. Given that all Free Software is available in source form, it can either be packaged for a distribution or put in an appropriate location via ./configure or a similar process. Therefore, these standards only really benefit proprietary software vendors. Hence, I've personally ceased caring about them in the least. It took me a while to realize the point of all this, but now that I finally get it I find it incredibly pointless. The only purpose of the LSB, LCC, and similar “binary standards” is to make it easier for third-parties to provide binary software that works on more than one distribution. Given that all Free Software is available in source form, it can either be packaged for a distribution or put in an appropriate location via ./configure or a similar process. Therefore, these standards only really benefit proprietary software vendors. Hence, I’ve personally ceased caring about them in the least.

]]> By: Ian Murdock http://ianmurdock.com/linux/an-important-step-forward-for-linux-standards/comment-page-1/#comment-97 Ian Murdock Tue, 30 Nov 1999 00:00:00 +0000 http://ianmurdock.com/wp/?p=144#comment-97 If there's free software out there that does everything you need, then you're right--this doesn't really impact you. However, there are a lot of people that don't fall into this category, particularly in the business world, and for them, this kind of initiative is absolutely essential. For some additional perspective, please see the "Looking Ahead" part of my Debian retrospective (<a href="http://www.linuxplanet.com/linuxplanet/editorials/4959/1/):">http://www.linuxplanet.com/linuxplanet/editorials/4959/1/):</a> "The commercialization of Linux is at a crossroads, and it is much the same crossroads that UNIX reached in 1993. The delicate balance of the Linux ecosystem, which is what makes Linux valuable, is being threatened by a certain few who would like nothing more than to own it. To the extent that any company is successful at 'productizing the ecosystem,' the ecosystem will cease to be an ecosystem, and the very thing that is different about Linux, the very reason that we are all here, will be gone. "Some say that Linux will never suffer the fate of UNIX because of the GPL--and from a community perspective, they're right. No company will be able to 'own' Linux, because Linux is not ownable. "My concern here is not the Linux community, which will do just fine either way, but rather Linux in the commercial sector. There are more ways to lock in commercial users than just intellectual property, and we're seeing this strategy play out today. The Linux opportunity is enormous, and the opportunity is in the ecosystem around Linux, where any number of companies, large and small, can benefit and coexist. It would be a shame if this ecosystem were to be destroyed." If there’s free software out there that does everything you need, then you’re right–this doesn’t really impact you. However, there are a lot of people that don’t fall into this category, particularly in the business world, and for them, this kind of initiative is absolutely essential. For some additional perspective, please see the “Looking Ahead” part of my Debian retrospective (http://www.linuxplanet.com/linuxplanet/editorials/4959/1/):

“The commercialization of Linux is at a crossroads, and it is much the same crossroads that UNIX reached in 1993. The delicate balance of the Linux ecosystem, which is what makes Linux valuable, is being threatened by a certain few who would like nothing more than to own it. To the extent that any company is successful at ‘productizing the ecosystem,’ the ecosystem will cease to be an ecosystem, and the very thing that is different about Linux, the very reason that we are all here, will be gone.

“Some say that Linux will never suffer the fate of UNIX because of the GPL–and from a community perspective, they’re right. No company will be able to ‘own’ Linux, because Linux is not ownable.

“My concern here is not the Linux community, which will do just fine either way, but rather Linux in the commercial sector. There are more ways to lock in commercial users than just intellectual property, and we’re seeing this strategy play out today. The Linux opportunity is enormous, and the opportunity is in the ecosystem around Linux, where any number of companies, large and small, can benefit and coexist. It would be a shame if this ecosystem were to be destroyed.”

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