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Marcelo Tosatti on UnitedLinux (And More)
PDAJames writes "There's a new interview with Marcelo Tosatti online. He talks about what it's like to be kernel maintainer after nine months on the job and identifies the biggest problems with the kernel now. He also defends UnitedLinux against Mandrake's criticism. He would, since he works for Conectiva..."
How are things different now that you've been on the job for about nine months? It's less stressful. At the beginning I was not used to doing interviews, and I had like ten a day. So I was like, what is going on? Now I'm used to it
It's not like working on 2.5 (the development kernel). Yeah, that kind of thing is really sexy.
I'm glad to see that hard-hitting interviews are still around and I'm even happier to see that the answers are raw and uncut. This interview hit on everything that I wanted to know about kernel development including how sexy the 2.5 kernel is. Yay.
It's not like working on 2.5 (the development kernel).
;)
Yeah, that kind of thing is really sexy.
Marcelo is a kernelophile! He should be locked up for having feelings like towards kernels!
Yes, I know it from the submitter (not an editor), but it's still a dumb comment.
Just because you're an employee doesn't mean that you can't have opinions and express them. If anything, I'd think an employee of a company dealing with Open Source software would be more likely to express dissatisfaction when warranted. I suppose PDAJames (the submitter) only says nice things about the company he works for?
There are some simple problems that non-technical users might have with Linux, such as installing new software, or finding certain files that they need in the system. What's the solution to that?
Why do people keep insisting on asking kernel maintainers questions that only related to user level apps? What's the point? That's like asking the Gaim team about the newest block device code.
I've had enough abrasive sigs. Kittens are cute and fuzzy.
devloperWorks has this interview with Marcello from March. Ignore the Java exceptions :)
Do you even lift?
These aren't the 'roids you're looking for.
Although I am Mandrake/SuSe/RedHat user, I still find each distro great in their own individual way. I think United Linux offers an interesting solution to the bigwigs (Red Hat, and Mandrake on a lessser scale) but it will be tough for them especially when RH/Drake have both the server / desktop markets in their palms.
But we all know that things can change in a 90 degree turn on a day, i.e. Sega Saturn vs. PS, Genesis vs. SNES, OS9 vs. OSX, etc...
Only time will tell.
I think that he has made some good points about the value of UnitedLinux. It's nice having all the choice when selecting your distro, but for software companies writing for linux systems has to make sure that they can run on all distros is certainly an expensive undertaking.
And I think that pushing embedded linux is also an excellent point. It is a marked that linux can take over (unlike the current desktop).
I was disapointed he didn't talk to much about linux on the desktop, and what his views are about where/how to proceed. Anyone know of other interviews of his where he mentioned them?
"The large print giveth, and the small print taketh away" -Tom Waits
Linux and AOL...
that's like saying
"CAN I LOOK AT FETAL JAPAN WHILE GOATSE is loading?"
OK first of all you cannot install Linux on AOL because AOL is not an operating system. Though if it were an operating system, it would probably be MacOS (by dumbasses, for dumbasses). Both are crude, stupid, used by many and ridiculed by more.
can you install AOL on Linux? Yes... but why would you want to? That's like hammering nails into your cock and then shoving it into a power outlet. (using Lunix then AOL)
What's up, Doc?
'That's like hammering nails into your cock and then shoving it into a power outlet. (using Lunix then AOL)'
So that's like jump-starting my system right?
"The large print giveth, and the small print taketh away" -Tom Waits
I miss by weekly Linux Kernel update... Those stories and the dicsussion really added to the excitment surrounding Linux...
Actually, can we get meaningful and interesting stories here... The last two days have really sucked.
I ain't trolling... Just tired of UnitedLinux, wait until they accomplish something rather then just talking...
Tournament Management Online &
i see someone who never used osx before.
ignorance is bliss.
This bit really stood up, IMO:
And it could not be explained any more simply than that.
In Soviet Russia, Jesus asks: "What Would You Do?"
-12 days till LNUX gets delisted.
Q: What do retired employees and computers from after Jan 1st 2000 have in common?
A: They both don't work!
That joke and many more can be found in The Y2K Jokebook , one of the fine books on amazon.com that I have purchased.
What's up, Doc?
I just try to be as technical as possible. It is very important to me... People do not use the right words some of the time. Starting a fight is really easy. But instead of saying, for example, "You are full of shit," you can just say, "I don't think you are really right." You have to use the right words.
Slashdot could learn a lot from this guy.
Nice Crank Yankers reference.
Another Fag-intosh Oh-ess-ex lemming. Yay.
Ignorance isn't bliss... I didn't have the foresight to mention the goodness of OS X which doesn't seem bad at all. I have however had traumatic goatse-like experiences with other mac os's which I have never had with Windows:P.
What's up, Doc?
He said he got turned back at the border once for having a B1 visa when he needed a B2, and now he can't go back. What's the deal here? Is he banned for life?
It is tempting, if the only tool you have is a hammer, to treat everything as if it were a nail. - Abraham Maslow
I believe you meant CLIT, good sir.
Q: How did the Y2K Bug affect the robot golfer?
A: It gave him a bad drive!
What's up, Doc?
Is this a permanent condition? And is there any way to appeal this? Contact INS or our local representatives?
I understand the government's paranoia post-911, but this is throwing the baby out with the bathwater.
It's funny, laugh.
Hey I am not a programmer but this doesn't seem to be the most efficient way of doing things? Has this efficiency question ever been raised??? enlighten me linux hackers
***I GOT NUTHIN***
No, I meant PUSSY. As in you resemble a woman's genitals. Or to put it another way: CUNT
...you are really right.
because random words are the best way to troll! Don't worry, I'm not offended... I'm just a rabbit.
And you're just GAY.
I guess you do get a headrush from typing bad words under anonymous coward. I'm guessing you either resemble a fat bastard or a skinny little bitch.
What's up, Doc?
United Linux leaves a open door for .gov infection, personally with all the win backdoors i cannot see this as a good thing in the new age of aggregate information gathering.
We have IDE problems too. Some chipsets are corrupting data, which I'm really worried about.
Linux: Ready for the Desktop.
No offense to Marcelo, 2.4.18 was a great release.. but I honestly think Andrew Morton would have been a better choice for maintainer. The delay between 2.4.18 and 2.4.19 has been several months long - a few months is acceptable because of the IDE changes, but this is just a bit much. The time between pre-releases has been too long recently as well - the longer between each pre, the more changes that are made between them == less testing of the changes seperately.
(Yes, I know all the arguments about how it is a "stable" series and all - but some people want new features, and 2.5 is not an option, thanks to IDE being 0wned by Martin).
This is _NOT_ a troll.
Gene Kan was just some random programmer that worked on mildly popular free software. Nobody had heard of him until he killed himself, so why's it worth reporting?
He also defends UnitedLinux against Mandrake's criticism. He would, since he works for Conectiva...
Marcelo was polite and reasonable throughout the interview, and gave clear reasons for his position. What's with the bitchy editorialising?
> He would, since he works for Conectiva...
That's fine, work that remark in there, but maybe you should have thought about the fact that Conectiva is essentially supporting the guy maintaining the kernel...what, are you going to pay him to do the job? Are you going to quit your job or work the hours to do it for free?
Hasn't been for 2 years, even.
All the smart posters left years ago and got themselves girlfriends and a life. While waiting for their SO to wash their mouth after the blowjob, they post diaries relating their latest sexual adventures on kuro5hin.
I have been all over the place looking for a linux distro to use, and a distro that does everything I want it do do. I started off with redhat 3 years ago, suse, slackware, redhat again, jblinux (http://www.jblinux.net), and now debian. Debian is the best distro, ever. If I am going to think about changing one more time it will have to be Gentoo. Can anyone please tell me what will make UnitedLinux so special?
In the interview, Tosatti brings up how careful you have to be when patching the "stable" kernel due to the number of people using it. He later declairs that UnitedLinux "is completely a business issue." Yet, the UnitedLinux v1.0 specifications makes technical decisions involving major patches like the inclusion of IPSEC support. Since FreeSwan is the most mature implimentation of IPSEC, one can only assume FreeSwan will be filling this part of the specification when the final release of UnitedLinux comes out later this year.
So... if FreeSwan is technically ready for UnitedLinux and the four Linux distributors involved then why not just add FreeSwan into the main v2.4 code?
"he would" is to marcelo as "they wouldn't" is to slashdot...
Considering they have not mentioned that VA had a downsizing and ousted their CEO.
Who cares what some seppo has to say.
What a waste of a FP by the way. I claim it for logged in ACs.
Hello, AC, you big wuss you,
It's perfectly valid to make the point that he has an interest in promoting United Linux, since he does work for Conectiva.
There are ways and ways, my son. "He would, since he works for Conectiva" suggests that Marcelo is incapable of making a technical case for UnitedLinux. This is far from the truth. By all means point out the connection, but lets not dismiss anybody's opinions merely on the basis of who their employer is.
I'm a leaf on the wind. Watch how I soar.
Attitute? I suck at this.
See, I'm even disagreeing with myself! Point proven.
"Informative" my ass. When was the last time ZDNet couldn't handle a little slashdotting? Quit stealing their ad revenue.
-davidu
# Hack the planet, it's important.
This is going to destroy Microsoft
Say Good Bye to the Evil Empire!
FreeBSD already has had a stable high-performance VM for years now. Why waste any more man years of effort with this NIH syndrome?
Debian is still putting out stale kernels.
Perkeleen runkkaripaviaani, veda vittu paahasi ja juokse vuorille.
T: Seppo Miettinen, Turku
Because most people don't know the difference between Linux, the kernel and a Linux distribution. The concept is alien to them because of their upbringing. This includes mainstream journalists who know nothing other than Microsoft and Apple.
What are the challenges ahead for Linux?
We need to get ordinary people used to using Linux. It isn't that it's so hard to use, it's just different. People say Linux is hard to install, but if you gave somebody Windows and had them install it, not everybody would be able to do that.
Not true, windows is easy to install and has fail safes and no dead locks, linux has BAD interfaces regarding PARTITIONING and bad help/feedback/error detection. THere are some badass interface errors there (redhat).
Sure its a lot easier than it used to be, but it still needs refinement, and give the user more confidence and not assume they know all terminologies, but windows isnt harder.
With linux I always think to my self, "god i hope it works", with windows its, "allright hurry up, get it completed" - im more confident it wont stuff up in Windows (latest,xp)
He has trouble getting into USA, see this is the precise thing why usa is so fuggered up!
Surely an intelligent/risk assesment will see that big deal, a guy used a tourist visa for business purposes, whoooppdi dooo! what a disaster to security.... this aint Nazi germany. He is not going to do anything. America is full of millions of criminals any way, any 'tourists' at least spend money. If X person is a threat inside USA, then why not arrest them in their home country, if they are a 100% good citizen in the home country being in EU or AU, then thats good enough.
Typical usa , letting in bad-ass people faking their way in, but honest good people with silly mistakes and BANG, KLINED/BANNED from entry.
I often see GOOD linux related stories or techy news, that totally gets missed by $loshDOT, often its new for IT workers thats perhaps not boring and sensationlistic.
Only 25% of the stories are 'stuff that matters'
Each story needs a VOTE/POLL to ask
"Does this story matter??? yes/no" to guage if it was useless.
Oh the editors, so many mistakes/miss quotes/spelling mistakes.
What are they doing? posting at 3am after 12 beers?