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Ian Murdock: Linux is a Process, Not a Product
securitas writes "Debian founder Ian Murdock says that Linux is a process, not a product. He also says that the product mentality 'misses the entire point of Linux and the open-source development model.' Because Linux is made up of many different components developed on independent timeframes, Murdock posits, to refer to Linux as a product is to strip it of its dynamism and closes its inherently open nature. Instead, he says that Linux should be viewed as a shared platform and infrastructure technology, and that business models should reflect that or else Linux risks becoming proprietary, closed and just another cookie-cutter piece of software."
How do you sue a process?
Umm
This space for rent. All reasonable inquiries will be entertained at proprietors discretion.
If you class linux as a product then they've released more OS updates than Microsoft could ever compete with :)
It's synergrrific!
--
"If SCO really does have their way, are we going to run something called SCO-GNU/McLinux?"
No. It will be called: MS SCO Linux GT (Gnu Technology).
To me, this makes Linux worth it's weight in gold.
Seems like a strange way to measure value. How much does Linux weigh? GNU? OS X? Windows?
Imagine how much harder physics would be if electrons had feelings! -Feynman, maybe
Perhaps it weighs more now that it's an organism and not a product, we have to count all those hefty developers.
Perhaps it weighs less, because now it's not a product so you can't count the weight of the CDs.
Perhaps it weighs next to nothing, as it is just a collection of electrons.
Perhaps this whole article, and especially this post, are just plain silly.
Lessee.. "product mentality", check.. "dynamism", check... "shared platform", "infrastructure technology", "cookie-cutter software"... Yup, that fills in a full row on my Buzzword Bingo sheet.