Ford To Move To Linux

KingDaveRa writes "The Register is reporting that motor giant Ford is switching to Linux for its sales systems, human resources, customer relations and infrastructure, referencing a report in yesterday's Scotland on Sunday. According to The Register, the biggest battle was over which Linux vendor to use - RedHat or SuSE." Update: 09/16 01:51 GMT by T : An anonymous reader points to this NewsForge report, according to which Ford is not moving to Linux.

Comments

Linux...

[Gibble]

Linux...First On Race Day

I like the sounds of that.

Application programming is a dying paradigm

[Amsterdam Vallon]

Most new, non-game applications these days are written for the Web.

This way, any platform can connect to the application and run it the same way as anyone else would on a Palm Pilot or Pocket PC or Linux or Solaris or Windows or whatever.

Through XML and standard Web technologies, we are making a revolution in availability. No longer does each client/end-user of the application have to download and install certain drivers or use a certain computer -- the application behaves and runs the same on any device.

When an app does have to be a traditional desktop program, don't get me wrong -- I know what works, and I would choose Linux. But for most all-new programs, bosses are increasingly and more often suggesting that these be written for the Web, and for the Web exclusively.

The Linux-vs.-Microsoft thing is dying.

Re:Application programming is a dying paradigm

[stretch0611]

I agree. The browser is where applications are being written today. It is the reason why Microsoft used its monopoly to trample Netscape. The browser is a threat to Microsoft because it is a single, cross-platform environment suitable for application development.

The web browser has set back application development 20 years.

So what you are saying is that application development on a browser is like COBOL, FORTRAN, and Assembly?

We're in an age when even the smallest hardware store can buy a highly reliable Linux server and have MySQL and Apache running on it for under $500. All you need then is the software that'll keep your stock inventory, and the equipment to network your existing -- probably low spec -- PCs up, and off you go.

Absolutely Right. I recently just built an entire POS(Point of Sale) system for a mechanic. All I did was add a single server (w/ Linux, MySQL, and BlueDragon) added a network card to each machine he already had and now he has a reliable network aware application. Before, he had an old system that could only be run on a single computer. Now his mechanics can be updating maintenance records in the garage while his receptionist is billing customers in the office.

But web apps are a freakin headache for support, BECAUSE of their ability to run on anything.

If you stick to web standards (Not IE Standards), you can miminmize this. Admittedly, it also helps if you can make sure that everyone is using a modern browser. (Mozilla 1.0+, IE 5.5+, Netscape 6.0+)

Compiled programs are still what run mission critical software. They're faster and more reliable.

Compiled programs are faster... Yes. That is the biggest benefit. However, how much speed do you need? My POS system I mentioned above renders most pages in under one-half of a second, Only a few of the reports take a little longer. It is actually faster than the old compiled POS system he replaced. Admittedly, the old system had more data than it could handle, but with the new system I told him when there is more customer data than it can handle we could both retire.

As for reliablity, if your client machine crashes while running a compiled application it is possible to lose data. A web browser is stateless, (even though we use tricks to retain the current state) if a client machine crashes, the chance of losing data is minimal.

In the corporate world, because of problems with the limitations of browser based interfaces and the speed of computers companies are making a big push back in the direction of thick client applications

I disagree, one of the reasons why we are going in the direction of thin clients is that you only need to back-up and provide critical support for the server. It is cheapest to provide this support for the fewest number of computers necessary. The problem with thick-client is installing software updates to the client side and a concept experienced programmers refer to as DLL-Hell.

Huge, Huge, Huge Problem for Microsoft

[jpetts]

This is just the beginning of a whole slew of major players announcing the move to Linux. For each one that is announcing, there have got to be at least a dozen or more looking.

The fact that companies of the size of Ford are switching, rather than just using the threat of Linux as a stick with which to beat Microsoft, will be sending real shivers of fear up the spine of the Beast of Redmond. This is the point at which they have to start changing their business model, and fast, unless they want to spend a few years in the wilderness like IBM did after their business model died. They really don't have much time left...

one question

[Dizzo]

the biggest battle was over which Linux vendor to use - RedHat or SuSE

So who won?

Re:What about Burlington in 1999?

[worm eater]

For one thing, right now Linux is a hot news item, so people listen. Whereas the city of Munich changing OSs wouldn't be much of a story a few years ago, now it is. Of course, this doesn't mean everyone's going to switch, but one more major corp. switching to Linux, one more major Windoze worm outbreak, people start to notice.

Re:No Brainer

[KodaK]

If I were an IT manager, this is exactly what I would do.

I am an IT manager, and it's not as easy as you think. First, you have core applications, the things that run your business. If you have a development staff, great! However, for the rest of the smaller guys out there we rely on a third party for our core software.

I work for a mortgage broker. I've got our infrastructure running on Linux, but we have to have Windows on the desktop so that our loan origination software will run. (I recently found out that they're switching their software to a .Net platform, so I can't even use Linux on the server if I stick with this software. The sales drone was all uppity about it "you're the only one that hasn't been excited about that." Yeah, I'm the only one who has to drop a few tens of thousands of dollars on an MS infrastructure....)

Anyway, back to my point. This is a wonderful move for Ford, and hopefully will add a little more weight to the cause, but not everybody can do it, unfortunately.

Confirmation?

[interiot]

This is great news, and is something I'd expect to see picked up on online sites all over the internet. However, a Google news search turned up nothing more. And the Register story is little more than a reference to the Scotsman, with not much to indicate that the Register did any independant verification (eg. they bring up the question of which Ford picked, Suse or Mandrake, but don't mention any answer). In other words, it's essentially rumor at this point.

I don't have the balls to do it, but can anyone get Ford on the phone? Or are there any Ford.com people who read slashdot who can verify?

Red Hat or SUSE?

[Mostly a lurker]

One possible clue is a current consulting opportunity in Detroit, advertised on www.hotlinuxjobs.com:

Red Hat System Administrator - Advanced Server
Salary: 30-35/HR - Long Term Contract (1+ year) Detroit, MI -
JOB DESCRIPTION: Participate in developing the Ford global RedHat (RH) Advanced Server (AS) 2.1 Linux load.
...

Actually a good point

[chia_monkey]

This is actually a good point. It's not just a coup for Linux vs. Microsoft, but a big "F you" to SCO by saying "yeah, we'll do Linux". I hope more companies realize this and stop halting their Linux work or other companies will start their Linux work and stop fearing SCO's threats. This will be interesting to watch...both MS and SCO.

Re:What about Burlington in 1999?

[johndoesovich]

no, but this is big for everyone. I use Microsoft goods at home and I cannot stand it. I am tired of the issues at home. I am tired of fixing my friends computers because the latest worm hit them. The point is you use what is familiar to you. We are working to implement linux as our sole solution here at the office. We have run into minor problems because of our financial system. Other than that, we are almost ready to plung into it. If I had no idea about computers but had some sort of logic, I would go for Linux because it is free and throw openoffice on top of that. It's beautiful. I would like to see Ford put out another release for openoffice assuming they use it.

Why choose, man?

[dasmegabyte]

the biggest battle was over which Linux vendor to use - RedHat or SuSE.

I guarantee you that the Ford motor company's IT department is bigger than either RedHat or SuSE. Why choose a distro when you can make your own system so easily? I mean, which is better: paying high priced consultants and smooth talking project managers to solve your emergency problems on their terms, or pressuring your own guys to do the same?

Plus, who wouldn't want to see Ford Linux? I may not like Ford cars, or Ford as a car company, but Ford as an engineering paradigm is something that I have respected for a LONG time. I even used to have a big Ford emblem on my first webserver...because it was as reliable as my old Ranger, which wasn't very reliable at all. It wouldn't have to be an official distribution, but wouldn't it be great if it was? Ford Linux, emphasis on secure embedded transaction systems. Direct competition with Microsoft in the market...and Linux on the dashboard of Fords, Cougars, Volvos, Jaguars...

And why is it so strange that Ford should make software? GM owns an insurance company and a bank. GE owns a damn TV network. Hell, this company we just partnered with is somehow owned by Niagra Mohawk, the power company responsible for the northeastern blackout last month. Their "core competency" may be automotive design, but if you've got a massive team of hackers tapping away at infrastructure code already, you might as well sell it. Use your name to take it to Joe Nascar's Dell...

Re:STORY IS UNTRUE - LINK

[ksheff]

The Newsforge people called someone in Detroit. The Register article is referencing an article in a Scottish newspaper. It's quite possible that Ford's UK divisions or all of Ford's European divisions are switching to Linux and the people in Detroit know nothing about it.