Under the thread "SuSE derailed? Not if...." Ted Harding recently
formulated his misgivings with respect to Linux evolution.
Here are two of his statements:
> I hope LSB (or equivalent) will be achieved. I think it is essential at
> this stage of Linux evolution for there to be a standard which everyone
> can expect, no matter what distribution they choose to install.
> What is required is a definitive file-system structure (including config
> files), a definitive configuration procedure, a definitive installation
> and upgrading mechanism, etc, and an absolutely standard linux "base"
> system. This should apply to different distributions (though any
> distribution is of course free to set itself aside but then must accept
> the consequences) and, as far as possible, should apply to any one
> distribution consistently over time.
Even if we take into consideration that this list is devoted to SuSE
problems and questions and that some users might be reluctant to go of
on a tangent I am still rather surprised that this very serious issue has
only generated one reaction up to now by Juergen Braukman.
Anyone who takes the time to compare say SuSE 5.3/6.0 with RedHat 5.2 will
discover a lot of small differences with respect to use and interpretation
of the so called Linux File System Standard, runlevels, authentification,
init sequences/utilities/scripts, packages, package naming,
program versions (for example Fortran), networking organisation,
library bundling (for example SuSE including 'readline' in 'bash'), etc., etc.
Granted the differences are still minor and they all use essentially the
same Linux Kernel so that, to name a few of the larger commercial Linux
distributions, Caldera Linux, RedHat Linux, SuSE Linux, Pacific Hitech Linux
are all recognisable as 'Linux' and a user switching from one to the other
will only encounter minor surmountable differences with respect to
configuration, setup and use.
But for how long? RedHat, Caldera, SuSE, Pacific HiTech all use RPM.
But already it is allmost impossible to use a rpm made for one distribution
in the other.
(And what about Debian and Stampede with their different packagers?)
Given that these are commercial companies selling essentialy the same product
but competing with one another I suspect that if no agreement is reached via
the LSB project, and preferably sooner than later, we are not going to have
ONE recognizable Linux for much longer. We shall have a RedHat Linux, a SuSE
Linux, a Caldera Linux, a Pacific HiTech Linux, mergers of companies,
Microsoft practices, etc. etc. OR the history of Unix all over again with a
product dwindling into commercial insignificance.
How will ISV's developing commercial products for Linux react, what
standard should they develop to, etc., etc. I won't elaborate further,
everybody can fill in his or her own scenario's.
The people who originated the 'SuSE derailed' thread were worried that SuSE
was missing market opportunities in NA, that Linux was becoming equated with
RedHat. One interpretation of this is that they would not mind seeing
SuSE adopt very aggressive business practices and challenge RedHat head on.
Are these the kind of developments we should encourage and applaud? Are these
the kind of practices that bode well for LINUX, the OS that we all use and
like?
There are many kinds of Linux user with different needs and responsibilities.
All of them will ask different things from a distribution.
Furthermore commercial practices have been put into execution and commercial
and market pressures will from now on shape the future of Linux wether we like
it or not.
But I for one would not like to see fundamentally different Linuxes come into
existence. I would like to see essentialy one basis agreed upon and adhered
to. The distributions only putting different flavored icing on the same
cake. And working together to promote and deliver a superior product.
I am very interested in hearing your opinions on these matters and I do think
this list is a good place to discuss these matters because it concerns
the distribution we use and like and its future.
Should we users make our voice heard with respect to LSB? Can we leave it
to the companies? Do we even want a commercialy succesfull Linux?
Alexander
-------------------------------------
Alexander Volovics
Dept of Methodology & Statistics
Maastricht University, Maastricht, NL
-------------------------------------
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