CeBIT 2010: Linux Successes, Challenges
At the Open Source Forum of CeBIT 2010, the Linux Foundation's Jim Zemlin named three reasons for Linux's success. He also identified three possible challenges for the free platform.
"Every occupant in the Western world, every stock exchange uses Linux daily," Zemlin began his talk, "whether it is in a Google search or a mobile phone." After 18 years of existence, Linux is ubiquitous, Zemlin reported.
He continued by supporting his assertion with facts: 2,700,000 lines of code went into the 2009 kernel. Ninety percent of the kernel authors work primarily on the Linux core, which has long since lost amateur project status. It would cost a company $10.8 billion to build a Linux kernel from scratch, while Linux firms are already earning $50 billion annually in the enterprise market.
Zemlin mentioned three trends that would ensure Linux's further success. First, Linux saves money, which is a major competitive advantage during the world financial crisis. Second, the platform is compatible with every new class of device where a mobile phone and computer converge. The Linux Foundation is already active with Intel and Nokia in this respect on the MeeGo project. Televisions, e-book readers, and digital photo frames are also candidates for Linux platforms.
The third factor favoring Linux is the market move away from products to services. SaaS runs on Linux and open source software. Google runs on Linux. Mobile operators profit from their services, with customers getting the phone or netbook as a bonus, thanks to Linux without its licensing fees.
Next to presenting this generally positive future outlook, Zemlin also identified some challenges that Linux must face. As always, these include Linux's standardization that would guarantee interoperability. One way to address this is through the Linux Standard Base (LSB) internal to the Linux Foundation. The second factor is the ongoing legal adversity. "In the U.S.," said Zemlin, "patents are a catastrophe. Too much is patented." Here common legal defense has been active in the form of organizations such as the Software Freedom Law Center and the Linux Legal Defense Fund. Lastly, the world of free software needs to learn a bit from Apple to make its products more user-friendly and fine-tune their outward appearance. The software ought to be "free and fabulous."
How to support all this? Zemlin naturally suggested becoming a member of the Linux Foundation.
Subscribe to our Linux Newsletters
Find Linux and Open Source Jobs
Subscribe to our ADMIN Newsletters
Support Our Work
Linux Magazine content is made possible with support from readers like you. Please consider contributing when you've found an article to be beneficial.
News
-
Fedora 39 Beta is Now Available for Testing
For fans and users of Fedora Linux, the first beta of release 39 is now available, which is a minor upgrade but does include GNOME 45.
-
Fedora Linux 40 to Drop X11 for KDE Plasma
When Fedora 40 arrives in 2024, there will be a few big changes coming, especially for the KDE Plasma option.
-
Real-Time Ubuntu Available in AWS Marketplace
Anyone looking for a Linux distribution for real-time processing could do a whole lot worse than Real-Time Ubuntu.
-
KSMBD Finally Reaches a Stable State
For those who've been looking forward to the first release of KSMBD, after two years it's no longer considered experimental.
-
Nitrux 3.0.0 Has Been Released
The latest version of Nitrux brings plenty of innovation and fresh apps to the table.
-
Linux From Scratch 12.0 Now Available
If you're looking to roll your own Linux distribution, the latest version of Linux From Scratch is now available with plenty of updates.
-
Linux Kernel 6.5 Has Been Released
The newest Linux kernel, version 6.5, now includes initial support for two very exciting features.
-
UbuntuDDE 23.04 Now Available
A new version of the UbuntuDDE remix has finally arrived with all the updates from the Deepin desktop and everything that comes with the Ubuntu 23.04 base.
-
Star Labs Reveals a New Surface-Like Linux Tablet
If you've ever wanted a tablet that rivals the MS Surface, you're in luck as Star Labs has created such a device.
-
SUSE Going Private (Again)
The company behind SUSE Linux Enterprise, Rancher, and NeuVector recently announced that Marcel LUX III SARL (Marcel), its majority shareholder, intends to delist it from the Frankfurt Stock Exchange by way of a merger.