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The problem I have is that even though you might be able to install a DEB or RPM from some other distro, the chances of it working are often slim. I realize different distros want to do things "their way", but it would be nice if they'd standardize on things more.

However, autopackage .package files would/should work on any distro. Also worth looking into are componentized linux, and the Linux standards base .

I'm not saying that things are perfect, however, I will say that things continue to get better.

It just prevents evil corporate bastard or pakistani virus spreader from calling his CD of spyware, viruses and trojans "Debian".

It's way too late for this. It's been discussed half-heartedly for ages. I guess at one point they managed to get Trusted Debian to change their name, but then Bruce Perens immediately backpedaled with his "fair to all businesses" policy.

If Debian thinks they can take the route that Mozilla has, in trying to prevent others from releasing improved/modified versions of their software as "Debian", then they must be joking. In fact, ironically, Debian doesn't even abide by Mozilla's trademark policy. It's been suggested that it's not even possible for them to.

For Brandon, especially, to be pushing for this is completely ridiculous, since his employer does exactly what he's talking about preventing, by releasing Progeny Debian.

There's no "revising" needed. There is no trademark. Their original trademark "policy" along with whatever trademark they had has not been defended. It's been years since anybody even thought about it. And most who have tried, have come to the conclusion that no policy is better than any. It's too late.

Besides, everyone sees this for what it really is. Now that there is commercial value in Linux, and in Debian, everybody wants to have their hands in the pie. A few monied interests are working to make "Free" software a little less free, in the guise of "just protecting the community from abuse".

Well, I ask, what is this abuse exactly? Is it RedHat making a name for Linux? Is it IBM putting Linux in SuperBowl ads? Is it small groups like Trusted Debian taking what they thought was "Free" and improving it? Is it thousands of web hosters and developers using OSS to make a living, and guaranteeing that Free Software dominates at least one market instead of withering from non-use? Is it admins and small support companies working to put Linux and Debian on desktops against all odds? Are these the people who need to dot their "i's", cross their "t's", and watch their backs, lest some competitor gain control of the Linux trademarks and sue them into poverty?

When Bruce started his little group of people to support Debian, all hell broke loose. A third of the developers went with Bruce to carry on the tradition of separating business from OSS, a third jumped on board with Ubuntu, and the other third just sat around expecting money to fall into their laps.

Well, I have news for those developers: money isn't going to fall into your laps. Not from suing the people making money from Linux, not from extorting them, and not from threatening them with ridiculous license changes. If you want a job supporting Debian, developing OSS programs, or even selling Linux, they are out there. Go get one. Or, you can always do what thousands before you have done, make your own. Just don't sit in your house crying about "abuse", and expecting someone to bring money to your doorstep.

Is it a new Windows distribution, when an OEM installs extra tools, such as IBM's laptop utilities? I think there's a tendancy to see division above and beyond where there actually is any, when it comes to Linux.

Changes in policy alone can made a distro seperate from its parent.

Personally, what I would like to see is a "standard source library", where versions of packages known to work together are collected together. That would simplify the work of binary package maintainers and provide a level of unification on the baseline WITHOUT imposing unification in the installation or the experience.

Agreed. I think a combination of Componentized Linux and AutoPackage would bring us several steps closer to that goal. Also, it's too bad that Fedora "Core" doesn't join in the effort.

I have long thought that we need a package and repository system for FOSS on windows also. Wouldn't it be great if you could just install apt-get for Windows and get all of the OSS goodness in one shot with automatic updates? :)

I would ALSO like to see package maintainers work together a bit better. I use a number of the RPM distros that make up the RPMForge collaboration, yet I do run into lots of incompatibility issues. This is not necessary and definitely not desirable.

I'm not familiar with RPMForge, I agree that there should be more consolidation when possible. Why do there need to be several incompatible repositories for Fedora Core? Why can not everyone converge around an at-rpms multi-step testing style instead of pushing out the current version as soon as the latest is released? I'm not even endorsing at-rpms itself, just that style and consolidating the repositories.

Why is there not a common repository project that supports all of the big RPM based distros (at least RHEL, Fedora, SUSE & Mandriva)? If nessisary use one SRPM and compile it against the various target distros, but maybe one rpm could cover them all (I'll let someone else inject the LOTR reference).

I think diversity for Linux is essential, but a software version of the Great Library of Alexandria would definitely help with not only maintaining those distributions efficiently but also make it easier for distros to be much more compatiable with each other.

Debian is already at the center of several distros, why not extend it over to the RPM world? Use Debian source packages and make RPMs out of them. :)

http://componentizedlinux.org/

Progeny Debian 2.0 Developer Edition aims to provide an unmatched "out of the box" environment for software developers building applications for the Java, Mono/.NET and LAMP platforms. Progeny Debian 2.0 Developer Edition also serves as a showcase for Componentized Linux and includes all Componentized Linux technologies. As such, it is also an excellent development platform for builders of Componentized Linux based custom distributions.

Progeny Debian 2.0 Developer Edition aims to provide an unmatched "out of the box" environment for software developers building applications for the Java, Mono/.NET and LAMP platforms. Progeny Debian 2.0 Developer Edition also serves as a showcase for Componentized Linux and includes all Componentized Linux technologies. As such, it is also an excellent development platform for builders of Componentized Linux based custom distributions.