DeXtop And Free Software

Rikul writes "Great article over at linuxplanet.com about Xi Graphics trying to remarket CDE under a different name, DeXtop. Aside from fact that DeXtop wouldn't work without Xi's X server, it also breaks many libraries that Gnome/KDE/e depend on. " The piece is definitely op-ed, but raises some interesting points.

Comments

Definitly a future best of show!

[Xibby]

"Also, keep in mind that applications written to "target" a freeware GUI such as Gnome, KDT, Enlightenment, or one of the others floating around out there, likely will not work with the industry standard CDE, on which DeXtop is based."

So basically, they tell you that all the up to date, brand spanking new, award winning (ok...and mozzila too...) free software on available for linux won't work when you use their product?

Sounds like a shoe in for Best Acid Trip at LWCE 2000, with great potential for a repeat award. I wonder if the marketing guys at their boot knew why everyone was pointing and laughing at them.

"GUI Wars" editorial on the Xi site

[adam]

This editorial, dated last Friday, on the Xi Graphics site seems to argue that their goal is to get as much software running on Linux as possible and that the best way to get MS and Adobe to port their software is to have a standard GUI.

It does note, quite correctly, that having proprietary software ported to Linux really goes against the goals of the Free Software community. On the other hand, it misses completely the fact that many of the big proprietary UNIX vendors are switching from CDE to GNOME anyway.

And more importantly, it also misses the fact that it might just be possible to create apps that can work almost seamlessly within at least two GUIs if the authors of those GUIs can come up with effective ways to combine them. Which, IIRC, the KDE and GNOME folks seem to be doing underneath the sniping. :)

I'm mostly just boggled that Xi is missing the strong momentum away from CDE, whatever it's going towards.