Linux's future lies in its community's hands
By: Kevin Lynch
Issue date: 10/8/04 Section: Sci-Tech
Originally published: 10/8/04 at 1:11 AM EST
Last update: 1/7/05 at 1:23 PM EST
Originally published: 10/8/04 at 1:11 AM EST
Last update: 1/7/05 at 1:23 PM EST
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So what exactly does this mean to the end user? How does this influence Windows users to switch over to Linux? Well, these few things do not directly help the end user, but they do help make a substantial difference in the long run. All of these features help cut back on development time, allowing programmers to work on other aspects of the program, such as performance and usability. This means that open source applications such as the OpenOffice.org office suite and the K Desktop Environment will be perform and behave much better. The end result of all of these standards for Linux directly affects the users. No longer will throngs of Linux users get frustrated at the inefficiencies of the programs and switch back to the "easy to use" Microsoft Office and Windows.
Although the standardization of Linux at first seems to infringe on the core belief of customizability of Linux, it does not. The taming of Linux in no way hampers the customizability. Linux users are still able to tweak settings and features as they see fit, and in many cases it could become easier. With a standard setup, there is no guess work that needs to be done when a user wants to change something. Likewise, things are easier to fix when everything is in a standard place. Without standards, without a direction, Linux will end up fragmenting into several different directions as the behemoth Unix operating system has in the past. If all of the standards mentioned do succeed without major criticism, then Linux will have secured its place as it progresses from a geek operating system to a full fledged mission critical operating system for years to come, avoiding the fate the Ghost of Linux Future foretold.
Kevin Lynch is a sophomore majoring in computer engineering.
Although the standardization of Linux at first seems to infringe on the core belief of customizability of Linux, it does not. The taming of Linux in no way hampers the customizability. Linux users are still able to tweak settings and features as they see fit, and in many cases it could become easier. With a standard setup, there is no guess work that needs to be done when a user wants to change something. Likewise, things are easier to fix when everything is in a standard place. Without standards, without a direction, Linux will end up fragmenting into several different directions as the behemoth Unix operating system has in the past. If all of the standards mentioned do succeed without major criticism, then Linux will have secured its place as it progresses from a geek operating system to a full fledged mission critical operating system for years to come, avoiding the fate the Ghost of Linux Future foretold.
Kevin Lynch is a sophomore majoring in computer engineering.
