This opinion piece was posted on slashdot.org yesterday. Today, after the news about Solaris opening the source, the discussion centers around GPL -v- SCSL (yawn). What nobody seems to get on /. is that Linux doesn't have a brand. Even if Linux were to pick up scalability from the Solaris SMP codebase (which it would need to do modularly so as not to throw huge system speed degradation for all the x86ers), Linux has nearly no commercial franchise (as great as it is otherwise).
I think the timing of this whole thing is being precipitated by (here it comes) a pending PUBLISH order to M$ by Judge Jackson. I think even talks have taken place with both Sun and M$ in that regard. There is indication of that from some of the recent moves and statments from M$.
With the Win32 codebase exposed, *nix does Windows and M$ loses it's leverage. End of monopoly.
-JCJ
What if SOLARIS was Free? Would LINUX Still Survive?
LINUX:
No matter where you turn these days, LINUX is the word.
Linux is the biggest thing to hit the computing industry since
Apple introduced Macintosh in 1984. I myself joined the
Linux bandwagon in 1997. My first experience was Luke
warm at best, but as I started to use Linux more often I soon
realized what everyone was talking about.
As we speak, there are various projects to develop
software for Linux. Projects for GUI's, Office software
and efforts to port Linux to the new Intel 64-bit chip. It
seems like everything that has already been done on
another OS is being ported or implemented on Linux.
There is a mass media explosion on covering this new
OS. Everything from web sites to conferences dedicated
just to Linux and it's user base. There are independent
user groups (LUGS) popping up around the world.
As the Anti-Microsoft warriors spread the word about
Linux, many businesses are contemplating whether or not
to include Linux in their corporate network. Since Linux
is free, it's easy to convince management to use Linux.
Also, companies such as Linux Care are providing 24/7
support to make those CEO's sleep at night.
The Linux movement as a whole attracts people to it. It's
that feeling of rebelling, of being the first guy on the
block to have an FTP server in your basement. Call it a
movement; call it a revolution, Linux is here.
SOLARIS:
Sun's Solaris is one of leading forms of UNIX in the world. It
powers a large chunk of the world's Internet servers as well
as many corporate networks. Solaris is also the favorite
platform for many academic institutions. Not only does Sun
make Solaris, it also makes the hardware systems (SPARC)
that Solaris can run on (Also runs on x86.)
Solaris Highlights:
Highly scalable (64 processors)
Already runs on 64-bit SPARC chip (Intel doesn't even
have one yet)
Has been proven in the industry
Has the support backing of a major company (Sun)
Runs everything Linux does (Mail, DNS, FTP etc?)
Already has many software packages ported to it.
Now has Star Office
If you look at what the Linux community is doing now, it has
already been done by Sun. Solaris can do everything Linux
can do, but better. You have the backing of a major
corporation, which is also in competition with Microsoft
(Linux people should like that.)
My Point:
After reading the above text, ask yourself one simple
question: What if Solaris was free?
How about these questions: Could Linux survive as a UNIX
alternative?
The answer is no. Why re-invent the wheel? Solaris is a fully
operational, scalable and reliable OS. Linux would have no
place in a world were Solaris was free. Sorry, that's the truth.
(The only place left would be embedded systems)
But since this is reality, and Solaris isn't free The Linux
revolution is here to stay.
osopinion.com
Here is the slashdot discussion and link for that (before the fact) post.
slashdot.org
Here is the slashdot discussion for after the fact Solaris/SCSL news item.
slashdot.org |
