Top 10 side effects of switching to Linux

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Number 2: You actually get some serious work done
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But the most cool one is number 1.

Take a look 🙂

Flattery

Jürgen

I’m really flattered for being added to your blogroll (I just noticed 🙂 )

Why the honor? (I really like it though)

The state of Linux

Dear Readers

* (Linux is a term I chose to use. Please don’t start with me philosophy debates regarding naming conventions. Besides, I’m sure everyone who reads this will understand).

I’d like to challange a little the Linux community. In all recent press, me, my friends and many other people I know are reading about Linux all sorts of information. There’s one article talking about winning some deal, where Linux shines and outperfomes Windows. There’s another, where we finally “Get the facts” where Windows gets the win hands down. And then there are more, where Mac is better than Windows and Linux is better than Mac, etc…

This, of course, is an endless list of PR (public relations) and other commercial stuff. (Yes, I said Linux and commerce in one sentence, and I meant it so). Each vendor shows all the cases he wins over his competitors and we know that.

But here’s the thing. I’m sure it happens all over the net, but I mainly read Unix/Linux news and not Windows ones. I’d say, that in an average day I see the same number of those messages from public press on all three major operating systems. Even more than that, news about less known ones like *BSD, Solaris, etc are also pretty much at the same level.

Here what I’m trying to say: with regard to my own field of expertise, I’m saying that all 3 operating systems (and even few more) are valuable and existing choices, all offer the same features and all can do the job. Customer chooses the solutions to his/her likings and he’s happy.

Let me elaborate on this.

All … operating systems… are valuable choices. What I mean by this, is that when I as customer am coming to a vendor, and explain to him my problem, I at least expect that I will get all the possible solutions. In almost all cases (except in OS-specific problems) I want him to provide me with Windows choice. Not that I think it is the best choice (it may not be), but because I like choice. It makes me feel better and more comfortable. And also, I’m saying that all operating systems today offer similar features, so I can solve almost anything in any of them.

With all this, I come to main point. We often talk about how Linux is ready (or not), it’s on Desktop (I even wrote a piece about that as well), or on server, and how its better than Windows because ……. (fill in your favorite), and how its more open than MacOS, etc. What I’m saying, its this:

Linux is ( and already for some time) ready.

It’s ready for Desktops. Ready for servers. Ready for embedded. Ready for everything.

Ready for competition.

I’m saying its ready, because the community is ready. Customers are ready.

Linux stake in OS business is ~3%, and this serves (surprisingly or not) as the reason for many people to ignore it. Well, too bad. Apple has the same share, but it is hardly ignored. Solaris has probably even less, but no one ignores Sun.

So, I’m calling to a Linux developers out there (and application developers): stop worrying. Keep going. You’re doing a great job. Your product is better than other ones. Keep doing what you do, because the fruits of your labor are being used by millions and this number will only keep growing. I’m handing off my hat to all of you.

There’s no point in bashing other operating systems. Linux holds its place. It will get even better. But competition is good for us. It keeps us all in shape and prepared. It makes us go over the edge. It makes us think.

And want to know what is the best thing of all? The community. It will overgrow companies. That’s why Linux (and other open OSes, and applications) will thrive.

Linux is ready. Welcome to Linux state.

Net problems

Bummer, I have a gtalk disconnecting on me all the time… 😦

The overestimated Death of the Linux Desktop

For the last couple of days I’ve been reading about the so called Death of the Linux Desktop. What I cannot understand is, how so Linux desktop can be dead if it never existed?

For few years, we’ve been hearing all sorts of saying, that this year will be “the year of Linux on the Desktop”, that this year, Linux will conquer desktop arena, etc. So if all that is true, wouldn’t that mean that it is not on the desktop yet, and hence it cannot die?

That depends hugely on point of view. What would mean, that Linux is on a desktop? I use it. On the desktop. Does that count? Some people I know use it on laptops, servers, and even embedded devices. Does this count?

Yes. Everything does. The main point of these articles, debating on the death of desktop Linux, is to address the departure of one of the major desktop proponents within kernel developers. While great thing by its own, it doesn’t yet encapsulate the whole desktop on Linux, isn’t it?

I think that the most important thing is that work will be kept going on, improving things we have, inventing new ones and making everything better and better. And only after awhile, we would be able to look back on what we’ve done, what happened and decide: That was the year of Linux Desktop. That year it made it. And only if it won’t be going well anymore, we’ll say – Linux on Desktop is dead.

But until then – I think we should stop jumping to conclusions, and just keep doing what we do the best – the greatest software and the best communities.

Linux on the Desktop is yet to come.

-A.

Grandma factor

I’ve been reading around different stories about how we’re not making our systems enough “grandma”-proof (that is to be “easily” used by grandmas. Sorry grandpas, you’re probably not too appealing for the cause).

In fact, I’ve written something like that myself some time ago. That doesn’t mean I’ve changed my mind about that essay, I just adopted an attitude.

What I am thinking now, when considering things said in that article, is that designing a system for an “average” computer user is becoming less relevant. I do think that usability must go as one of the first and foremost important features, but nevertheless, making our systems oversimplified (Gnome anyone?) is a totally wrong thing to do.

(Regarding my Gnome remark, I just saying rather large opinion that I hear around. I use Gnome myself, and it is sufficient enough for me. But also is a Xfce and MacOS X, and in some degree Windows and KDE. I just want to say, that in some projects, craving for simplicity overshadows main goals of the projects – and that is to deliver functionality. And Gnome’s “simplicity” was the factor that turned Linus Tourvalds to KDE)

In fast technology race, the functionality can be beaten by usability. But usability means “convenient use”, not “simple”. Any system that simplifies on expense of other important aspects, is destined to fail.

All I want is that technically oriented crowd would differentiate between the so-called “average” user and everyone else. My wife (wife to be in a short while) uses a computer without significant problems. She just doesn’t like how some things are done (such as MSN Live upgrade forced up on her. She liked it the way it was, and she doesn’t like to be forced to do anything, as we all don’t).

In the world I live in, there’s almost everyone knows how to handle a computer. For better or for worse. And you know what? My dad is a grandpa now, and he can handle complicated computer tasks very well. Do you know how? I’ll tell you how.

Because he’s a grown intelligent person, that can take his time to learn a new thing. Just like he did once when remote controls for everything began to appear.

What I’m trying to say, is that we should probably stop using a “grandma” factor as a major “usability” measure. Many computer users are not that illiterate anymore. Almost all newly grads for last 10 years (who lead many businesses today) are comfortable with computers. Many college students grew up with one.

So, I think there’s a need for yet another level of usability. A community needs to find another type of a person that will test a usability of a product.

It should be an advanced computer user, who are not afraid to try new things, who understands what a new product is and what is usability and how can it be assessed.

Try me for that.

No words needed

Absolutely amazing.

Source: Digg

Licensing issues

I’ve read the article from Jem Matzan, about how latest ramblings around licensing issues prove that reality will prevail the idealizm.

And you know what? I agree.

I always choose to use an open source software when I have the choice. I do it both idealistically (because I can easily connect to developers and users community, and get help and assistance), and because of technical merit (I find often that open source software is much better than many commercial ones), and definitely because of the cost (just bandwidth to download stuff) and mostly because I don’t want to get into licensing debate with larger bodies.

I just use computing as tools. Think of it as when you buy a hammer, it comes with sort of a license agreement that only allows you to use it with specific type of nails. Sure, noone will really check what exactly for and how exactly are you going to use it, but license is there nevertheless.

I think such thing would be extremely stupid and worthless, but I’m not the one who decides. I just want my hammer as something heavy and convenient, and I do want to hit something else with it sometimes.

So it is for me with computers and software. My choice of open source software is a choice that assures me, that I can do anything I want or need with tools I get.

Now, what is the problem Jem describing here? The problem, as FreeBSD Foundation President put it, is that many think that what Free Software Foundation thinks is the right thing regarding the licensing. I disagree with their approach.

In a free world, as they would like it to be, anyone entitled to a free software, exactly as I am. But sometimes, for my own personal advantage, I would not like to open source to my product. Someone doesn’t like that? Either close your code too, or shut up. It is a free world after all, I can do whatever I want. Many GPL proponents seems to care to their freedom only.

With all those additional open-source licenses, the only one more thing you get is the one thing that you’re trying to avoid – DRM. The curse word in digital world, meaning that every single bit is restricted, and you can use the bit I created only under my own conditions, and if you don’t comply, I’ll sue you to death. But it’s all ones and zeros, folks. Nothing more.

That’s why I side with Linus on licensing issue (he was never bothered by commercialization of Linux, and in fact I think he’s even happy about it).

I like the most the BSD license.

Free for all and for all purposes. Just don’t forget to mention who created it.

The best ever.

-A.

At work again

Hi all

Today, almost 2 month after I was fired from my position at Exanet, I started to work with my new employer, Tehuti Networks as a System Manager. My job would be creating a processes for QA inside the company. So I hope that I’m back online now 🙂

Please, wish me luck.

My own site

Hi all

Recently, I’ve asked your help with suggestions regarding hosting my own blog. Now, as I started doing some other things which require online place for myself, I need a little more than blog hosting.

I need your help with general hosting plans, which provide great resources (software: wiki, blog, etc, bandwidth and space), great reliability and excellent price.

I’ll be thankful to all of you for suggestions.

-A.