The 2.7 Kernel: Back To The Future For Linux

Anonymous Coward writes "Now that the Linux 2.6 kernel has been released and is being worked into distributions, many in the open-source community are turning their attention to the next development and test kernel, known as the 2.7 tree. To get an early glimpse at some of the thinking going into the next kernel, key vendors that aid in shaping the Linux kernel helped eWEEK last week put together a long-range wish list for 2.7."

Comments

So...

[}InFuZeD{]

I go to read about the 2.7 Linux Kernel and I get an advertisement telling me that Linux costs 11%-22% more on average in 4 out of 5 workload scenarios... I immediately lost interest in the 2.7 kernel and just got angry at Microsoft.

So that is their plan... the whole Yoda "hate blinds" plot... darn they're good.

Re:So...

[kfg]

Don't get mad at Microsoft; get mad at eWeek for placing the the silly ad where they placed it.

Yeah, I can do that, but then that's their business so they're not likely to give it up. Microsoft payed them to put the ad there.

This sort of placement is so common these days I barely even notice it. It's the ironic pairings that catch my attention these days -- Like when a broadcast of Brave New World was sponsored by Zoloft with the their little bouncing sad face/happy face cartoon.

"Do you feel depressed? This might be a serious medical condition. Get HAPPY!"

Ok, back to the program. Cue the Soma riot.

KFG

Let's hope

[iminplaya]

that they remove all the SCO code this time. Maybe then it will fit on a floppy again.

Re:Let's hope

[kfg]

I'm sorry, but the floppy disk was invented at IBM and has been used to store copies of AIX. Clearly that means, under the terms of IBM's contract with SCO, that SCO is the intellectual property rights owner of the floppy disk.

If you use a floppy disk to load Linux, the stolen property of SCO, your floppy disk license will be revoked and Darl McBride will, ummmmmm, issue a press release daring you to cross this line.

KFG

New features I'm interested in...

[Togakure]

Something that will autoconfigure the desktop (using voice commands of course, not this obsolete keyboard thing) while serving me a pint of Guinness at the same time...

Re:New features I'm interested in...

[dont_think_twice]

Something that will autoconfigure the desktop (using voice commands of course, not this obsolete keyboard thing) while serving me a pint of Guinness at the same time...

Actually, the current kernels do this. Here is how:
1) go on IRC on a linux channel, and say something like "man linux really sucks - on windows, I can just double click on a cd icon and it will install the drivers, but when i try that in linux, it never works"
2) this will offend some guru's view that linux is perfect, so he will try and help. act confused and self-righteous at the same time
3) eventually, suggest it would be easier if he came over and set things up for you himself. mention that you are thinking of going back to windows since it is easier.
4) when he gets there, sit on the couch and let him work. every once in a while, yell stuff at him, like "set up my usb camera" or "install the nvidia drivers". always finish a request with "on windows, it just works" - this is the action command to the linux guru/kernel interface
5) to get the guiness feature, simply say "I think longhorn is going to have a beer pouring feature built-in. does linux do that?"

Re:New features I'm interested in...

[tntguy]

Step 1

Dear Linus,

[Anonymous Coward]

I have always felt that Linux is a nice operating system (for hobbyists and
geeks), but there are some areas where it is seriously lacking, especially when
compared to its main competitor, Microsoft? Windows?.

* File sharing. Windows has long been superior when it comes to making large
amounts of files available to third parties. Even early versions of Windows
automatically detected and made available all directories thanks to the built in
NetBIOS-powered file sharing support. But Microsoft has realized that this
technology is inherently limited and has added even better file sharing support
to its Windows XP operating system. "Universal Plug an Play" [slashdot.org] will
make it possible to literally access any file, from any device! I think
universal file sharing support needs to be built into the Linux kernel soon.

* Intelligent agents. With innovations like Clippy, the talking paperclip
[dmu.ac.uk] and Microsoft Bob, Microsoft has always tried to make life easier
for its customers. With Outlook and Outlook Express, Microsoft has built a
framework for developers to create even smarter agents. Especially popular
agents include "Sircam", which automatically asks the users' friends for advice
on files he is working on and the "Hybris" agent, which is a self-replicating
copy of a humorous take on "Snow-White and the Seven Dwarves" (the real story!).
Microsoft is working on expanding this P2P technology to its web servers. This
project is still in the beta stage, thus the name "Code Red". The next versions
will be called "Code Yellow" and "Code Green".

* Version numbers. Linux has real naming problems. What's the difference
between a 2.4.19 and a 2.2.17 kernel anyway? And what's with those odd and even
numbers? Microsoft has always had clear and sophisticated naming/versioning
policies. For example, Windows 95 was named Windows 95 because it was released
in 1995. Windows 98 was released three years later, and so on. Windows XP
brought a whole new "experience" to the user, therefore the name. I suggest that
the next Linux kernel releases be called Linux 03, Linux 04, Linux 04.5 (OSR1),
Linux 04.7B (OSR2 SP4 OEM), Linux 2005 and Linux VD (Valentine's Day edition).
Furthermore, remember how Microsoft named every upcoming version of Windows
after some Egyptian city? Cairo, Chicago and so on. I think that the development
kernels should be named after Spanish cities to celebrate Linux' Spanish
origins. Linux Milano or Linux Rome anyone?

* Multi-User Support. This has always been one of Microsoft's strong sides,
especially in the Windows 95/98 variants, where passwords were completely
unnecessary. Microsoft has made the right decision by not bothering the user
with a distinction between "normal" and "root" users too much -- practice has
shown that average users can be trusted to act responsibly and in full awareness
of the potential consequences of their actions. After all, if your operating
system doesn't trust you, why should you trust it? (To be fair, Linux is making
some progress here with the Lindows [lindows.com] distribution, where users are
always running as root.)

With Windows XP, Microsoft has again improved multi-user support. Not only
does Windows XP come with a large library of user pictures that are displayed on
the login screen, such as a guitar and a flower, it also has "quick user
change". This makes it possible to login as a different user with a simple
keyboard shortcut, and the good news is: programs from the old user keep running
in the background! Beat that, Linux!

* Programmability. Microsoft has always been known for making computer
machine power accessible to end users. The operating system comes with many
helpful tools such as VBScript, a programming language especially useful for
developing intelligent agents as mentioned above, and QBASIC, a truly innovative
"hacker" tool that makes it pos

Re:Dear Linus,

[offpath3]

Linux VD

I'd heard the GPL was viral, but this is taking it a little too far! =)

Re:Dear Linus,

[Anonymous Coward]

named after Spanish cities to celebrate Linux' Spanish origins. Linux Milano or Linux Rome anyone?

You're an American aren't you?

Re:Dear Linus,

[jonehead]

> "Snow-White and the Seven Dwarves"

It's "Dwarfs", not "Dwarves". Get your facts straight before you start posting, idiot. Sheesh.

It was Tolkien who wrote about Dwarves, in "Bilbo Baggins and the Seven Dwarves."

Brain Lasers

[yamcha666]

Will there be support for my orbiting brain lasers in the 2.7 series?

I know

[Sexy Commando]

A web browser and a media player would make 2.7 a killer kernel.

Re:Focus switching to the desktop

[SLi]

If you haven't tried 2.6 yet, you really should. I noticed a considerable increase in X response time with it.

I hope you didn't mean what you wrote. :P

Re:Focus switching to the desktop

[AvitarX]

I noticed a considerable increase in X response time with it.

I noticed the exact opposite.

times were signifigantly decreased.

Re:The article is mostly content free.

[frankthechicken]

Man, re-RTFA, there's tonnes of juicy stuff in there, such as the insightful and thought provoking:-

In fact, Dargo contends that a 2.7 wish list from each of the vendors would reflect their particular technology interests and that there will be different wishes from the different groups within those companies.

Or, this juicy tidbit,:-

"Some basic clustering support would be nice."

And, some groundbreaking, earth shattering revelations, that

"For some, additional desktop functionality would be welcome for the development kernel"

And you say there are only vague references??!!

Those are concrete, cast iron, steadfast references to some general thinking and dreaming out loud.

Versions

[dJCL]

I agree that we should build a 2.7 kernel leading to a 2.8, but I also think that a 2.9 leading to 3.0 should be started, with the idea of cleaning up some of the ugly stuff that may have started to creep in there. With a 3.0 version the emphasis should not be on compatibility as much as on speed, security and features. It may break compatibility, and there may be a need to a layer to keep some older programs working, but I think that a version started now that really pushes for some reworking at all levels, from the ground up would be a good thing for the future of the operating system.

Advertising in the article

[CSharpMinor]

From a MS ad embeeded in the article:
"Windows Server 2003 offers a savings of 11-22% over Linux in 4 out of 5 workplace scenarios."

From the text of the article:
"The company said in a 2001 Securities and Exchange Commission filing that Linux cut its technology expenses by $16 million, or 25 percent."

Re:I'd like something cool, like...

[NoMoreNicksLeft]

Yes, because that's what linux has been missing all along! The Windows Add Hardware Wizard!!!

Jesus cockgobbling Christ, am I the only one that thinks this guy should get karma-bombed back to -50 for this cretinish piece of ass-stinky opinion?

Menuconfig is about as simple and consistent as it gets, and unlike some other un-named operating system, linux doesn't have a "ports" category that only sometimes includes 3rd party serial cards or USB busses. Drivers have a certain category they belong in (barring some truly innovative/bizarre piece of hardware), and you'd do good to learn them. As for kudzu, get a real distro.

Letterman's top ten

[t0ny]

To get an early glimpse at some of the thinking going into the next kernel, key vendors that aid in shaping the Linux kernel helped eWEEK last week put together a long-range wish list for 2.7

And #1 on that list is... Paul, can we get a drum roll?

#1- get rid of those damn, damn, r00t exploits!

Re:move along

[ocie]

Customer: I'll have a shake, and 4 mallocs.
Clerk: do you want any frees with that?
Customer: No thanks.
Cllerk: OK, but you'll be sorry.