Silicon Investor (SI) -- The First Internet Community

STOCKTALK

We've detected that you're using an ad content blocking browser plug-in or feature. Ads provide a critical source of revenue to the continued operation of Silicon Investor. We ask that you disable ad blocking while on Silicon Investor in the best interests of our community. If you are not using an ad blocker but are still receiving this message, make sure your browser's tracking protection is set to the 'standard' level.

Technology Stocks : Red Hat Software Inc. (Nasdq-RHAT) -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: JRH who wrote (867)	8/26/1999 9:46:00 PM
From: gao seng	Respond to of 1794

I didn't know that. I don't rush out to buy the new version every time a new book comes out. But just because they include kde on the cd doesn't mean squat. Below: A description of RHAD's current project, GNOME. Our excuse ... Red Hat Advanced Development Laboratories (RHAD Labs) was established as an independent development group to work on problems of usability of the Linux operating system. The world of Linux software, and Free software in general, is missing a critical component. While the people working on Free software now are making extraordinary progress in low-level technical and system areas, the Linux user interface remains as one of the final challenges. Indeed, the progress of the technical and system development has been so great that the market for Linux has expanded to nearly its full potential on that basis. The small number of applications available for Linux is one of the large barriers to entry for new Linux users. This is being addressed slowly but surely by the marketplace as it recognizes the size of the current Linux market, and even by Free software developers as they desire to do more and more of their work under Linux. However, the effect of the appearance of these new applications on the growth of Linux is severely limited by the lack of an environment in which to run them that is accessible to a larger audience. The reason for this glaring hole in the Linux offering is fairly obvious. Much of Free software development is done out of necessity. Basic kernel and system level operation is prerequisite to virtually any computing environment. In addition, work of this type is often covered in the curriculum of Computer Science programs, so students are inclined to work on these problems. At the other end of the spectrum is applications development. Contrary to popular belief, a good number of usable applications have been developed and released under the GPL. These have been developed because even Linux-literate users need to read mail, draw pictures, etc. However, these people are perfectly comfortable using the Linux shell commands, modifying window manager configuration files, etc. It is these in-between elements, the space between applications and system utilities, that is now the greatest obstacle for Linux to overcome in order to expand its user base. RHAD Labs was established to address precisely this challenge. The Lab will bring to bear Red Hat's considerable position and experience in developing Free software within the community. By working on such problems as window manager configuration and control, user configuration, file manipulation, Internet navigation, and other areas that fall under the oft-used term "desktop", we hope to bring Linux to a much wider audience. This work will result in a quantum leap in the usability of Linux for users who are not Linux-literate, but nonetheless are demanding sophisticated and robust Internet enabled operating systems. RHAD Labs' charter is to work with the Free software development community to develop a highly accessible graphical computing environment on Linux. To further this goal we will: Develop Free software (in cooperation with the development community) to solve these usability problems. Provide resources (WWW, FTP, mailing-lists, etc) to others in the community working on these same problems. Promote the developments of all these efforts at trade shows, conferences, user group meetings, etc. Hold an annual conference for all the members of the community to get together, exchange ideas and present their work. Setting up a development team independent from the schedules of Red Hat Linux development accomplishes at least two goals. First, we can react to and support the Free software development community (which doesn't necessarily know or care about the Red Hat Linux development schedule), to facilitate and augment the development of Free software. Second, and perhaps more importantly, we are performing a big experiment... What are the ways in which a commercial organization can work within the Free software community? How can this be done while keeping the bean counters happy? What is the best environment for fostering the development of high quality Free desktop software? This is what RHAD Labs is all about. To find out more about what and how we are doing, read about our projects and keep an eye on the Rumor Mill labs.redhat.com