"Linux doesn't exist any more in 2007"

greggh · Post by **greggh** » Sun May 13, 2007 5:35 pm

...so says head of Microsoft's Linux Labs, Bill Hilf.

http://www.bangkokpost.com/090507_Datab ... data05.php

He said that most customers run a distribution - RedHat, Novell, Suse or Mandriva. Most of the work on maintaining the Linux kernel is done by developers working for these distributions, he noted

"They are full-time employees, with 401K stock options. Some work for IBM or Oracle. What does that mean? It means that Linux doesn't exist any more in 2007. There is no free software movement. If someone says Linux is about Love, Peace and Harmony, I would tell them to do their research. There is no free software movement any more. There is big commercial [firms] like IBM and there is small commercial [firms] like Ubuntu," he said.

Infoworld reads between the lines:

http://weblog.infoworld.com/openresourc ... confi.html

KStorm · Post by **KStorm** » Sun May 13, 2007 6:38 pm

Check out one of the comments where the obvious microsoftie is playing Godlawyer (MS claims, so it happened).

snarkout · Post by **snarkout** » Sun May 13, 2007 7:14 pm

So, first the FUD line went "you cant trust that shitty software those kids living in their mother's basements make!" and now it goes "Linux is TEH EVIL just like us!!! See, See, see?? These guys have JOBS!!!!"

Wally Balljacker · Post by **Wally Balljacker** » Mon May 14, 2007 12:23 am

I do agree that the Free Software movement is largely irrelevant nowadays. It has been for well over a decade. But I think that is a result of the growth Linux has achieved; it's outgrown movements and geek circles, and is very mainstream and commercial now.

But saying "Linux doesn't exist anymore" is obviously ridiculous. None of those distros would exist without the Linux kernel, and Linux as a brand is incredibly strong, and is a huge threat to Microsoft.

allix · Post by **allix** » Mon May 14, 2007 7:17 am

The Free software movement is more relevant than it ever was, there was a article in the CNN mentioning them in a good light actually.

http://money.cnn.com/magazines/fortune/ ... ney_latest

Without them, i think a lot of decisions would take a different direction, the gpl v 3 for whatever you think , needs to be released.

Had the kernel been written before userland tools , would people have stepped up started and written it?

If the FSF vanishes tomorrow, it would be a great loss to us all.

Obviously linux as a community beyond corporate sponsors exists, many of the unsung heroes of the FOSS community as it were are as important as the hackers getting paid by the fortune 500 companies.

Tsuroerusu · Post by **Tsuroerusu** » Mon May 14, 2007 8:39 am

allix wrote:If the FSF vanishes tomorrow, it would be a great loss to us all.

As Mr. Stallman would tell you: FSF != the free software movement.
The FSF is a part of the free software movement.

Just as the Open Source Initiative is part of open source, it is not the open source movement.

allix · Post by **allix** » Mon May 14, 2007 9:35 am

Tsuroerusu wrote: As Mr. Stallman would tell you: FSF != the free software movement.
The FSF is a part of the free software movement.

Just as the Open Source Initiative is part of open source, it is not the open source movement.

well, rms planted the seed that grew into the free software movement

open source initiative is something different, and personally i could not care less if it died tom marrow. To me its just a corporate friendly term ...

Tsuroerusu · Post by **Tsuroerusu** » Mon May 14, 2007 12:11 pm

allix wrote:
Tsuroerusu wrote: As Mr. Stallman would tell you: FSF != the free software movement.
The FSF is a part of the free software movement.

Just as the Open Source Initiative is part of open source, it is not the open source movement.
well, rms planted the seed that grew into the free software movement

Richard Stallman started the free software movement and the GNU project, he later founded the FSF to support the GNU project and promote free software in general.

jaz · Post by **jaz** » Mon May 14, 2007 12:51 pm

As usual MS just dosen't get it. Linux is more alive than ever because corporations are joining the community they are benifiting from, giving back making Linux (& the BSDs) better & better.
And if this is FUD, MS is shooting themselves in the foot, businesses have very few freethinkers, business "leaders" tend to be followers. MS saying Linux is really a product of the biggest Corporations being developed by professionals will only make others join the comunity so they will not miss the boat.
I have no problems with IBM or anybody else joining the party, every addition makes us stronger.