The Linux Foundation Should Stop Criticizing Solaris
Recently, the executive director of the Linux Foundation, came out basically saying that Solaris, Sun’s recently open-sourced operating system, will never go anywhere. He even took a shot at it being open-source, saying that open-sourcing it was “too little and too late.”
Okay. First of all, in my opinion, the Linux Foundation should not be in the business of criticizing any other operating system, unless they are specifically defending Linux. Furthermore, if there is any operating system that should be completely off-limits, it should be an open-source one, such as Solaris. If anything, they should be praising Solaris for becoming more open.
One of open-source’s huge advantages is collaboration and sharing. If one project does something interesting, that can be picked up in other projects. If we are all busy criticizing each other (non-constructively, that is), we lose that advantage.
Perhaps it is too much to expect the Linux Foundation to be above the constant flow of attacks from Microsoft, Apple, and the other major players, but it seems that, at least with other open-source operating systems, the criticism should at least be kept to minimum.
September 29th, 2008 at 1:55 am
Fair point. The article was unfortunate.
September 30th, 2008 at 11:12 am
Seems you have some fairly valid points to me.
Obviously not everyone is friends because they use similar licencing, but if it isn’t seen as a threat (or perhaps it is!) then there is no need to directly criticise it.
Nexenta – nexenta.org is one good example of how how solaris has lots of mileage
September 30th, 2008 at 2:27 pm
One of open-source’s huge advantages is collaboration and sharing. If one project does something interesting, that can be picked up in other projects.
Usually, except when OpenSolaris picks a license that’s completely incompatible with the GPL. The only interesting feature OpenSolaris has is ZFS; it will never be ported over to the Linux kernel, because Sun refuses to use a compatible license (if you could get ZFS on Linux, what’s the point of OpenSolaris?).
Secondly, have you ever tried to code for OpenSolaris, or any other Sun Open Source product? Every experience I’ve heard of involves the facade of openness and community, but neither actually existing. You can program for them if you want, but Sun 100% runs the show, which hurts their community.