> How do I decide which desktop environment and widget set to use for the > Linux port of my company's application? A follow on to that question is: What limitations do I impose on my customers by choosing that desktop environment and widget set?
I also think that this sort of full frontal assault on the desktop is going to be a very difficult sell. Linux desktop should work most to enhance the marketshare in areas that are an advantage. Those areas seem to be: 1) Technical workstations/renderfarms - (i.e. designers, engineers, artists) 2) Mass deployment (i.e. stores, schools, etc) 3) Extreme low cost (i.e. Linspire, developing countries, etc) So then the most important question would become "What ISVs that currently aren't on Linux would be most attracted to those marketplaces?". For example, it will be a lot easier to convince Autocad to do a Linux port if they thought they could get incremental revenue by competing on the platform with Linux/Unix based CAD tools. It would be a lot easier to convince Adobe to do a Linux port if they thought the could get incremental revenue from animation artists doing work on Linux render farms. Thinking that they should do a port for the good of the Linux community, or out of the goodness of their hearts won't go anywhere. Phil -----Original Message----- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of Bryce Harrington Sent: Wednesday, January 18, 2006 12:43 AM To: Dan Kegel Cc: desktop_architects@lists.osdl.org Subject: Re: [Desktop_architects] Applications and pre-installed machines On Tue, Jan 17, 2006 at 10:51:43PM -0800, Dan Kegel wrote: > > Maybe the right question to ask is not what's hindering Autodesk, > > etc. but rather what other companies are struggling in their markets and > > are desperate for any marketshare at all, and then ask what *they* need > > in order to port to Linux? > > Indeed. Developers, developers, developers, developers! Let's > find out what the little developers need, and give it to them! > The big ones will follow. I did a bit of brainstorming on questions I would imagine little ISVs might have. What do you think? Business Issues What benefits of desktop Linux are my customers interested in? How do I measure the Linux marketshare for my industry? What are some examples of large customers looking to acquire commercial software on Linux? My application will not be available as Open Source. Can I still expect there to be enough customers for a Linux port of it? I am considering Open Sourcing the Linux version of my application. What issues should I be aware of? I need to estimate the effort needed to do a Linux port. What information is available to help me do this? Technical Issues What sorts of technical issues should I be aware of when porting my application to Linux? How do I decide which desktop environment and widget set to use for the Linux port of my company's application? What approaches are other ISVs using to distribute their software? How can I make one package that runs on all versions of Linux? How do I make my application fit in seamlessly with others the user will have installed on their desktop? Bryce
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