View Full Version : Whats the goal of Linux
noonebutme
10-06-2006, 07:37 PM
What's the goal of linux as a whole - is it to take marketshare away from 'big bad microsoft' or to provide an alternative for hobbyists? Or something else - what do you think?
I personally think it's main purpose is to give a second OS for those who want it - not to become a mainstream OS with a large marketshare and point and click options that are not configurable.
JAPPO
10-06-2006, 07:49 PM
to provide a free open source operating system to act as an alternative to Windows and Mac.
synack
10-07-2006, 05:44 PM
To attract trolls'.
simon
10-09-2006, 02:35 PM
Where did the misconception come from that it is only used by hobbyists?
How many servers in the world are running Linux? And don't forget the embedded market. Ipods, routers, digital set top boxes... hell, even the PS3 is going to ship with Linux. Remember, X.org isn't even needed for most of these applications of the OS - no GUI!
noonebutme
10-09-2006, 08:13 PM
Where did the misconception come from that it is only used by hobbyists?
How many servers in the world are running Linux? And don't forget the embedded market. Ipods, routers, digital set top boxes... hell, even the PS3 is going to ship with Linux. Remember, X.org isn't even needed for most of these applications of the OS - no GUI!
Its not a misconception - Im asking what you think the goal is.
The iPod doesnt run linux by default, Most routers dont run linux. Most 'Digital set top boxes' dont run linux by default. Xorg might not be needed for most of the apps - but if linux wants to go mainstream like you seem to think - then it will need Xorg - the ordinary computer user doesnt like command line, they'd take Firefox over links2, X-Chat over irssi, and double click to install over ./configure && make && make install && Make clean or emerge (package) or whatever applies to the distro you use.
Server market's divided between 2k3 Server, *Nix servers, and BSD servers - BSD & Linux arent the same despite having similar origins.
nownot
10-09-2006, 10:09 PM
i believe the main goal of linux to be a free alternative. this can be for desktops but mainly servers. it will never be mainstram b/c of the dependacy for windows. for games and such. but a simple, free, secure, fully customizable os is great for servers. jmo.
wastern
10-09-2006, 10:15 PM
originally it's purpose was to create a unix like OS that didn't have all the constraints and limitations of unix itself
Its the whole goal of all open source. to put the software in the hands of the people, if you want something in the software, add it in, then share it back so others can benefit from what you have made. Software should be free and you should be free to do what you want with it.
Their goal isn't to take down microsoft or compete with them. It isn't about that. I believe someone asked Linus Torvalds that strait up and he said that was never and will never be his intention
simon
10-10-2006, 02:37 AM
The iPod doesnt run linux by default, Most routers dont run linux. Most 'Digital set top boxes' dont run linux by default.
Sure, the ipod doesn't by default. That was a bad example. How about mobile phones (http://www.mvista.com/products/mobilinux/)? As far as digital tv goes, I'm more familiar with BSkyB being from the UK, but I know that Echostar and DirecTV both have Linux based HD PVRs available, or will have pretty soon.
Xorg might not be needed for most of the apps - but if linux wants to go mainstream like you seem to think - then it will need Xorg
I mean applications of Linux. I couldn't live without X, and I'm pretty sure of all the people who use Linux on their desktop, not many of them still would without any graphical interfaces.
Which is a good point because Linux is still very much a hobbyists OS, allowing the freedom to choose to use a Windowing System, and what window manager to use if you do. I fully appreciate Linux as a desktop OS, and with Ubuntu allowing more people access, I guess anyone can use it!
BSD & Linux arent the same despite having similar origins.
I know ;) But no matter what the percentage, that's still a helluva lot of Linux servers.
Its not a misconception - Im asking what you think the goal is.
Sorry if I came off rude in my last post. Wasn't intentional I can assure you! :)
noonebutme
10-10-2006, 07:38 PM
As far as i know my mobile phone runs a variant of SymbianOS or some other OS - im positive it doesnt run Linux though. Dont most if not all smartphones run Windows CE or PalmOS?
I can, and i know a bunch of people IRL that can, easily use linux without Xorg. Lynx, Pine, Naim, and Date - have those 4 things and your set for 95% of the stuff you'd need on the internet. :)
As for being rude, dont worry about it, its the internet - if ya get worked up about it, then you need to take a break from it :P
simon
10-12-2006, 02:39 PM
Dont most if not all smartphones run Windows CE or PalmOS?
Sure, I'd tend to agree with that. Though I'd atest it to the fact that CE/PalmOS have been dominant in the PDA market (RIP Sharp Zaurus). However, there are a lot of mobile phones running Linux (http://www.linuxdevices.com/articles/AT9423084269.html).
As for being rude, dont worry about it, its the internet - if ya get worked up about it, then you need to take a break from it :P
The geek in me needs to vent from time to time too :P
Lynx, Pine, Naim, and Date - have those 4 things and your set for 95% of the stuff you'd need on the internet.
But these are all client applications, used mainly for home use. What I mean is that you're going to have a shit-ton (official term!) of server machines, such as the ever popluar LAMP configuration, where Lynx, Pine and Naim are all irrelevent. Date on the other hand, is pretty useful for... knowing the date! ;)
noonebutme
10-12-2006, 10:27 PM
iirc, date also shows the time ;)
If your running a server, then Apache & Mysql (Or lighttpd/postgresql or whatever else you desire) can all be set up via command line - and SSH is command line as well :) Its easier to run a server via command line then it is a desktop.
http://www.linuxdevices.com/news/NS8804000399.html
- Symbian - 76.2%, Linux - 13.7%, PalmOS - 4.6%, Windows - 4.5%, RIM - 1.0% Looks like more use *nix then Palm, but Symbian blows everything away :)
The goal of Linux is to allow you to do whatever you want to do and how you want to do it.
nownot
10-22-2006, 10:24 PM
we were talking @ work and we came to the conclusion that linux systems are just for show. everything you need to do can be done using windows and mac. there is no functionality that linux ads over these two. and we all use all three so pls dont flame saying i dont know what im doint etc..... but if you have thoughts pls post. and im talkig about desktop users, home use
tokenuser
10-23-2006, 01:24 AM
I'll get flamed mercilessly for this, but ...
Linux is still not desktop ready. Its OK for personal use for those that are techno savvy enough, but its not really ready for mainstream desktop deployment.
Linux IS the killer OS for servers though. It has the flexability and security, and maturity of server based apps (showing it Unix emulating heritage) that Microsoft just can't beat, and OSX for servers?? Forgedaboudit.
nownot
10-23-2006, 06:01 AM
I'll get flamed mercilessly for this, but ...
Linux is still not desktop ready. Its OK for personal use for those that are techno savvy enough, but its not really ready for mainstream desktop deployment.
Linux IS the killer OS for servers though. It has the flexability and security, and maturity of server based apps (showing it Unix emulating heritage) that Microsoft just can't beat, and OSX for servers?? Forgedaboudit.
could not agree more
lonescout
10-26-2006, 07:53 AM
I love Linux for my main desktop (using Windows XP on my laptop now because I'm working and I can't VPN into work via Linux). This illustrates one of the several problems as to why it's definately not 100% right for everbody.
The average user really simply browses the web, checks email maybe some other stuff.. all which Linux will do just fine. It seems there are even some (non-free) distros which are coming ready do to just that pretty much out of the box. I actually setup a box for my grandmother with just the icons she needs for what little she does... she loves it.
Unfortunately there are alot of things that Linux isn't quite up to par on that really doesn't make it desktop ready. Gaming has always been the big thing (there are great strides being made in with WINE and Cadega's services, but still far from ready for the "average" user IMHO). Video codecs and browser plugins can be an absolute ba$tard to get working in some cases, still not something the casual user is likely to be willing to do. Business users may find that some of their companies software internal software and networks don't play with it very well.
Things it does well - I use it for any and all P2P downloading I may do (so sue me.. I don't have a DVR and like to catch a couple shows a week :) ) I actually like to use some of the command line utilities on a whim (for me snownews RSS reader, fetchmail/mutt, basic text editors for simple thing and the plethora of scripting/programming languages available on a whim are major selling points). You get to customize you desktop(s) to cater to your every whim (and tons of choices to the Desktop environment that suits your fancy).
All in all, it really boils down to your needs/preferences. If you want a really nice, customizable, stable system that you don't mind putting together and going slightly off the beaten path for, and if you don't have needs similar to those described above, you may find it to suit your needs well.
For the forseeable future, I'll probably always have a Windows partition on my laptop and desktop. If all the features that I need become available (and reasonable to use) that could easily change :) When I'm not doing something that requires me to be in Windows, I'll usually be booted into the Linux side. That's just my preference. Find out what you suits you needs and run with it.