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Ask Alan Cox, Activist
Alan Cox is one of the world's most famous Linux kernel hackers. Lately he's been speaking out quite a bit on issues like copyright law, software patents, and the future of Linux, and has generally become a bit more politically active, at least in the public eye, than he was in the past. Slashdot interviewed Alan back in 1999. Lots of things have changed since then, but our interview procedure hasn't; one question per post, we send 10 of the highest-moderated ones to Alan, and post his answers verbatim as soon as he gets them back to us.
In regards to restrictive (to put it lightly) legislation like the CBDTPA: Do you think that some sort of compromise could or should be worked out with the proponents of such legislation? That would probably be the best way to win over moderates in the Senate. Or should all efforts be taken to stop such legislation as a matter of principle? I'm just asking where you want to draw the line between practicality and principle (think politics).
As a whole Linux companies where hit hard when the "tech bubble" burst. Where do you think Linux companies need to head to avoid the fate of a BeOS or OS/Warp?
This may sound like a rather facetious question, but in light of the latitude of development in Linux OS application (from mainstream, friendly GUI OS to embedded OS, to clustering), the recognition of just what is "Linux" may be harder and harder to define, at least in a way that doesn't confuse people who aren't knowledgable about it (or computer OS's in general).
The strengths of Linux are strengths very difficult to explain to people who don't see why Windows and Microsoft aren't good enough for everyone.
I suppose, ultimately, my question is this: has the development of Linux out-stretched it's ability to be well-defined to the general public, and if so, how can it be successfully marketed (which seems to be the competitive endgame these days)?
Cheers.
This wasn't just plain terrible, this was fancy terrible. This was terrible with raisins in it. - Dorothy Parker
Whenever I read mainstream articles about Linux they seem to say have differing ideas on what's stopping Linux from becoming widely used on non-geek computers. The interface is brought up alot, and so is installation (although with the newer releases of Mandrake, Suse, and others installation shouldn't be an issue anymore). But do you think that any of these "usability" arguments are valid anymore? I've read article after article about Microsoft "pressuring" places about going with anyone else. Do you think that Linux is ready or almost ready for prime time just M$ strong arm tactics with vendors and business's keep it pushed back?
Abiit, excessit, evasit, erupit.
Do you see a possible future where Microsoft and Linux work together - not against each other?
Do you think that the time has come for Linux and the GPL to part ways? Linus has already expressed his distaste for Stallman.