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Sun Opens OpenSolaris.Org

Posted by ryuzaki0 on from the good-faith-effort dept.

An anonymous reader writes "Sun has launched the first version of opensolaris.org, featuring a small initial drop of source code. The idea is to make a display of good faith to the Solaris community while the rest of the source code due diligence is completed. The source code for Dynamic Tracing (DTrace) is available for download under the terms of the newly OSI-approved CDDL license."

8 of 357 comments (clear)

  1. Hot-Swappable by jon_oner · · Score: 3, Insightful

    I just want the cool features of solaris (such as hot-swappable processors on a multi-processor system) to be ported to Linux. Honestly, bot OS can and should merge into one entity. less fork, more merge.

    1. Re:Hot-Swappable by DShard · · Score: 4, Insightful

      Merging solaris code into the linux kernel is a lot more difficult then implementing the feature from scratch. This is largely due to the codebases being wildly different but other difficulties contribute to the problem.

      On the bright side, hot swappable processors, memory and pci cards are already in linux. enjoy!

    2. Re:Hot-Swappable by Octorian · · Score: 4, Insightful

      Actually, one thing I really like about Solaris is a forwards-compatable interface for kernel modules (i.e. drivers and such). This is something that Linux feels downright embarassing at (heck, they're not even compatable from one build to another, yet alone a point version), and I'm really not sure how FreeBSD is at this (havn't checked).

      I can take a device driver written for Solaris version X, and chances are pretty good that it "will just work" on Solaris X+1 and maybe even X+2. (heck, I've even seen a single device driver module "supported" on multiple versions by a HW vendor) The only real requirement is that the module be built for the same architecture as the kernel (i.e. a 32-bit module won't work on a 64-bit kernel, and vice versa).

  2. Re:Dynamic Tracing by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 3, Insightful

    Basically, it's a way of debugging programs. A VERY cool way of debugging programs.

  3. Thank you to the folks at Sun... by illumin8 · · Score: 4, Insightful

    What a lot of Slashdotters might not realize is that Sun has spent literally millions of hours over the last couple of years "unencumbering" Solaris from patented code that was owned by other companies opposed to the open sourcing of their intellectual property. They did this for no reason other than to prove to the open source community that they are serious about open sourcing Solaris, and hopefully to sell some good Sun iron in the process.

    It would be nice to see some Slashdotters give Sun their well deserved props for a change, instead of ripping on them.

    "What? You gave us OpenOffice? That's not good enough..." I hoping this thread doesn't turn into another Sun bash fest because this time they deserve a little respect for giving away what I see as the crown jewels of their company.

    --
    "When the president does it, that means it's not illegal." - Richard M. Nixon
  4. Re:Now that's a concept by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 4, Insightful

    They should revive their "Open Windows" trademark to issue a open source operating system distro - be it Solaris or Linux. That would be a perfect revenge for Microsofts litigation against Lindows.

  5. Well, there's a little problem with those patents. by Bruce+Perens · · Score: 4, Insightful
    The press releases say those patents are only for software under the CDDL license and the OpenSolaris process.

    They can be enforced against GPL software including the Linux kernel.

    Bruce

    --
    Bruce Perens.
  6. Re:Well, there's a little problem with those paten by Bruce+Perens · · Score: 4, Insightful
    We're not talking about lifting code. That is covered by copyright law. Software patents cover applications of mathematical principles.

    Bruce

    --
    Bruce Perens.