Linux proof of open-source software success
Kevin Lynch
Issue date: 9/23/04 Section: Sci-Tech
- Page 1 of 1
By now, nearly everyone has heard of the Linux operating system. Less have used it, and even less actually understand the principles on which it is based. Linux, more formally known as GNU/Linux, is an operating system that is rapidly growing in popularity and is freely available to the public under the GNU General Public License (GPL). Exactly how can such a powerful software suite be figuratively thrown out the window for all to take?
The answer to this question lies in the definition of the word "free." The Free Software Foundation, the organization which oversees the GNU Project, defines "free" as a freedom not necessarily without charge to access it ("free" as in "free speech" not as in "free beer"). Free software implies that the user has access to run, analyze, redistribute and improve the program without having to ask or pay for permission.
This, however, does not explain why exactly free software is so popular. Why would a talented programmer waste his time writing an open source program rather than making money selling software? The answer to this is complex, but it can be attributed to the fact that it allows the software to evolve quickly. Programmers can easily improve and adapt open source programs to suit their needs much more quickly than it would take to wait for a corporation to implement the same feature. This allows open source software to be developed quickly with many improvements and bug fixes implemented along the way. In addition, the vision behind the program can be much more diverse, due to a community contributing to the project rather than a select few individuals writing a piece of software that everyone else is forced to blindly accept.
Though the theory behind Linux and the applications that run on it is great, what exactly makes the software great? Over the past few years, open source software has improved a great deal. The install and overall support for Linux has grown at an enormous rate since its inception in 1991 by Linus Torvalds. Over time Linux has shown much progress in the server market and it is now running on thousands of networks serving websites, files, databases and e-mail, and running more efficiently and securely. One of the greatest benefits to being open source is the quick response the community gives when a new security threat or attack is discovered. In many cases, a fix is issued within an hour or two. This timely reaction seen in almost every situation attracts the attention of several corporations in need of a secure and stable network. In fact, Linux is offered as the default operating system for many Dell and Hewlett-Packard, servers and IBM recently announced that their new Power5 line of servers will ship only with Linux.
Distributions of Linux such as Red Hat, Mandrake and SuSe have made huge advancements in usability allowing the non-tech savvy to install, configure and use the operating system in just about the same amount of time it takes to install Microsoft Windows.
In addition to an operating system, there are many full-featured open source applications such as the OpenOffice.org office suite, the GIMP image editor, Mozilla (Mozilla, Mozilla Mail, Firefox, Thunderbird) and countless other projects both large and small. When combined with these applications, Linux is slowly creating a dent in the desktop market historically controlled by closed source corporations such as Microsoft, Adobe, Macromedia and many others.
Even with the progress Linux has made, it is far from perfect. Recently, Linux and the GPL have come under fire from the SCO Group. The SCO Group sued IBM for contributing copyrighted Unix code to the Linux project.
In addition, SCO claims that the GPL violates copyright laws in the US Constitution by removing exclusive rights and promoting rights for all.
In response to these lawsuits, Linus Torvalds was quoted as saying, "Quite frankly, I found it mostly interesting in a Jerry Springer kind of way. White trash battling it out in public, throwing chairs at each other. SCO crying about IBM's other women ... Fairly entertaining."
Despite the legal battles Linux and the GPL face, the software is still improving constantly and progress does not seem like it will slow anytime soon. Currently Linux has the support of many corporations such as IBM, Novell, Dell, Intel and AMD to name just a few.
These companies see potential in the open source market and the configurability of Linux, and are developing commercial software and support for these products as well as contributing to open source projects. Also, many developing countries such as China, India, Brazil and Malaysia are beginning to recognize the value of open source and Linux. Without having to pay licensing fees for software, these governments are able to put money into other areas such as local development.
With open source attracting so much attention from governments and large companies, the question is no longer "Will Linux survive?" but instead, "How large will it get?". Though Linux and open source in general still has a long way to go until it is used in every home in America, it has gotten a lot further than many, even Linux himself, thought possible.
Kevin Lynch is a sophomore majoring in computer engineering.
The answer to this question lies in the definition of the word "free." The Free Software Foundation, the organization which oversees the GNU Project, defines "free" as a freedom not necessarily without charge to access it ("free" as in "free speech" not as in "free beer"). Free software implies that the user has access to run, analyze, redistribute and improve the program without having to ask or pay for permission.
This, however, does not explain why exactly free software is so popular. Why would a talented programmer waste his time writing an open source program rather than making money selling software? The answer to this is complex, but it can be attributed to the fact that it allows the software to evolve quickly. Programmers can easily improve and adapt open source programs to suit their needs much more quickly than it would take to wait for a corporation to implement the same feature. This allows open source software to be developed quickly with many improvements and bug fixes implemented along the way. In addition, the vision behind the program can be much more diverse, due to a community contributing to the project rather than a select few individuals writing a piece of software that everyone else is forced to blindly accept.
Though the theory behind Linux and the applications that run on it is great, what exactly makes the software great? Over the past few years, open source software has improved a great deal. The install and overall support for Linux has grown at an enormous rate since its inception in 1991 by Linus Torvalds. Over time Linux has shown much progress in the server market and it is now running on thousands of networks serving websites, files, databases and e-mail, and running more efficiently and securely. One of the greatest benefits to being open source is the quick response the community gives when a new security threat or attack is discovered. In many cases, a fix is issued within an hour or two. This timely reaction seen in almost every situation attracts the attention of several corporations in need of a secure and stable network. In fact, Linux is offered as the default operating system for many Dell and Hewlett-Packard, servers and IBM recently announced that their new Power5 line of servers will ship only with Linux.
Distributions of Linux such as Red Hat, Mandrake and SuSe have made huge advancements in usability allowing the non-tech savvy to install, configure and use the operating system in just about the same amount of time it takes to install Microsoft Windows.
In addition to an operating system, there are many full-featured open source applications such as the OpenOffice.org office suite, the GIMP image editor, Mozilla (Mozilla, Mozilla Mail, Firefox, Thunderbird) and countless other projects both large and small. When combined with these applications, Linux is slowly creating a dent in the desktop market historically controlled by closed source corporations such as Microsoft, Adobe, Macromedia and many others.
Even with the progress Linux has made, it is far from perfect. Recently, Linux and the GPL have come under fire from the SCO Group. The SCO Group sued IBM for contributing copyrighted Unix code to the Linux project.
In addition, SCO claims that the GPL violates copyright laws in the US Constitution by removing exclusive rights and promoting rights for all.
In response to these lawsuits, Linus Torvalds was quoted as saying, "Quite frankly, I found it mostly interesting in a Jerry Springer kind of way. White trash battling it out in public, throwing chairs at each other. SCO crying about IBM's other women ... Fairly entertaining."
Despite the legal battles Linux and the GPL face, the software is still improving constantly and progress does not seem like it will slow anytime soon. Currently Linux has the support of many corporations such as IBM, Novell, Dell, Intel and AMD to name just a few.
These companies see potential in the open source market and the configurability of Linux, and are developing commercial software and support for these products as well as contributing to open source projects. Also, many developing countries such as China, India, Brazil and Malaysia are beginning to recognize the value of open source and Linux. Without having to pay licensing fees for software, these governments are able to put money into other areas such as local development.
With open source attracting so much attention from governments and large companies, the question is no longer "Will Linux survive?" but instead, "How large will it get?". Though Linux and open source in general still has a long way to go until it is used in every home in America, it has gotten a lot further than many, even Linux himself, thought possible.
Kevin Lynch is a sophomore majoring in computer engineering.
Viewing Comments 1 - 1 of 2
Theovangogh
Theovangogh
posted 9/24/04 @ 6:19 AM EST
Nice article. Only a shame that the autor did not investigate the sco lawsuit any deeper than some press releases from SCO.
The GPL is not under attack by SCO. (Continued…)
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