Re: Query to the Linux community....
From: seani (seani_at_attic.localdomain)
Date: 01/03/05
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Date: Mon, 03 Jan 2005 12:29:04 +0100
On Sun, 02 Jan 2005 22:18:08 -0600, Carl wrote:
> I'm a Windows developer and I have a few questions that I hope the people on
> this group won't mind answering for me. I'm not advocating Windows in any
> way, nor am I trying to irritate anyone. I'm really just trying to find out
> what people think. I'll probably express a few opinions, but I always view
> my opinions as current working theories...constantly open to new information
> and re-evaluation. That's why I'm here.
>
> Currently there seem to be a lot of various distributions. I think that one
> of the things that may get in the way of the general public (re: not
> computer literate) accepting Linux is that people have this fear of choosing
> the "wrong one" of anything. You can tell a user "it doesn't matter," but
> to them it does, because they don't want to talk to their neighbor who knows
> more about computers than they do and find out that he or she uses a
> different distribution. This problem seems (to me) compounded by the lack
> of a single desktop GUI. Am I the only one that sees this as an obstacle? Am
> I simply uninformed?
>
IMHO, no you aren't wrong. Once you've made the decision to switch, the
plethora of distributions becomes a benefit. Before that point, there's no
doubt that it *is* a problem; users are paralyzed by "too much" choice.
This isn't a phenomenon limited to the choice of OS, just look in some of
the Camera and MP3 player hardware groups. People are seemingly terrified
of getting it "wrong".
This is particularly true in the choice of Desktop/Window Manager. For
many people coming from MS, the GUI *is* the OS, and the idea that these
are separate, interchangeable and *extremely* customizable takes some
getting used to.
My tactic in these cases is simply to point them at an excellent live
distro, such as Knoppix, assure them that they won't damage anything that
already exists on their PC, and encourage them to play. This only works
"virally" on an individual basis of course.
> The company that I work for will *never* give our applications out to open
> source, nor will it develop any open source software. I don't want to
> debate whether the attitude is right or wrong...I know that can get to be a
> heated discussion...but I am curious to what extent the Linux community
> considers this attitude something that can be overcome? Linux has the
> reputation of wanting to force people to give away their work for altruistic
> reasons. True or not, it makes companies reluctant to develop for the
> platform. Yes, I know about Open Office and some of those others, but the
> number of apps for Linux is seems relatively small...particularly
> specialized apps. Again, I speak from ignorance...how many people don't
> develop for Linux because they don't think they can make money for the
> effort?
>
"Wanting to force" is a slightly odd way of putting it. The principle is
simple, if you derive your application from GPL'ed code, and you intend to
sell it, the application itself is GPL, and any app. subsequently deriving
from *your* app. must itself be GPL. There isn't an element of choice in
this, it just "is". (There are variations on this theme that you can
uncover for yourself).
> Has anyone developed a good business model to make (not save) money on
> Linux?
>
Note that it is only if you wish to sell shrink-wrapped software derived
from GPL that you must GPL your own code. You're quite at liberty to
develop as many in-house projects as you like, and the source code for
these projects can remain undisclosed.
This suggests at least a couple of ways you can make money:
1) Offer a service rather than a product.
2) Develop a GPL-free "client", and run an open source (but undisclosed)
back-end.
> I'm curious as to what the generally opinion of the Mono project is. Many
> Windows .Net developers seem to use Mono as a reason to use .Net and
> ultimately write for Linux too. Right or wrong, my general perception is
> that people move to Linux to get away from Microsoft, and so Mono is a
> curious thing to me. Does the Linux community generally support Mono
> because it offers a migration path for missing apps even though it
> introduces an area of Microsoft influence (through it's control of .Net)? Is
> there a general consensus on Mono in the Linux community at all?
>
For the little I've used Mono, it's an impressive piece of work, and it
may be the only way that the claimed standardization for C# can truly be
enforced. Personally I find the MS environments unbearably bloated with
editors that are decades behind OSS offerings.
> I'd really enjoy hearing your opinions.
>
> Pre-emptive note: Please note that I have said nothing against Linux,
> have not compared Linux to Windows in any way, and have not asserted any
> superiority of Windows to Linux. Quite honestly I would enjoy changing
> platforms. I'm sick of MS trying to shove .Net and other technologies
> down my throat. I just want to make a living doing it without being a
> consultant.
Your questions are a model of politeness. I hope they get the informed
response the deserve.
>
> Thanks for your time.
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