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Ian Murdock: Linux is a Process, Not a Product

Posted by michael on from the apt-get-install-clue dept.

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."

4 of 284 comments (clear)

  1. Re:I can see Darl McBride typing now... by Nachtfalke · · Score: 0, Redundant

    Wouldn't "killall -9 Linux" work better? I think there are several of them out here.

  2. Left field! by dacarr · · Score: 1, Redundant
    Linux is a process, he says. Well, I *could* just 'kill -9 (pid of init)' and make my machine at home promptly stop, but why in tarnations would I want to do that?

    Then RMS says linux is the kernel, and the product is GNU/Linux.

    Other consideration, off topic here: if SCO really does have their way, are we going to run something called SCO-GNU/McLinux?

    --
    This sig no verb.
  3. Silly Me by Mooncaller · · Score: 0, Redundant

    And here I thought Linux was an OS kernel.

  4. tell that to RedHat by whitelabrat · · Score: 0, Redundant

    Redhat makes a living by making Linux a product.