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Tux Enlisted for U.S. Defense Program

An anonymous reader writes "Linux is a key part of the Army's massive $200B FCS (Future Computing System) initiative, it seems. RTOS vendor LynuxWorks was chosen to provide the OS for 18 weapons platforms under development, because its LynxOS-178 real-time OS can run Linux binaries -- including the "common operating environment" that Boeing is developing for FCS."

13 of 312 comments (clear)

  1. open source used to kill babies and oppress YRO by stratjakt · · Score: -1, Troll

    Heh..

    Hate on Windows all you want kids, all you're doing is supporting the mighty american military machine.

    At least I know that longhorn won't be killing babies. Maybe those security holes are a good thing.

    Its an interesting fact that Mac OSX was considered, but was passed over for violating the military's "dont ask, dont tell" policy.

    --
    I don't need no instructions to know how to rock!!!!
  2. Re:Yay, no BSOD by rambozo · · Score: -1, Troll

    well, a BSOD could save life or better yet, kill the murderer, sorry, soldier himself.

  3. Don't expect compliance with the GPL by ClosedSource · · Score: 0, Troll

    If Linux is modified as part of this program, don't expect any changes to be contributed back to the community. The military can pretty much get away with anything under the guise of national security.

  4. Go on small dick mod me down! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: -1, Troll

    Networking
    Music
    Robotics
    Patents
    Shit Wars

  5. Re:Yay, no BSOD by Janitha · · Score: 0, Troll

    Hmm, in a way I have to agree with that as well. Now that I think about it, I think it doesnt matter what OS that runs your weapons, war will never leave any winners, both sides will lose.

  6. Exploits by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0, Troll

    Is it just me, or is the idea of weapon systems build on opensource software troubleing? I mean, wouldn't a highly proprietary/secret embeded system that no one has the source code to be more secure?

  7. Re:Yay, no BSOD by DrinkingIllini · · Score: -1, Troll

    Go back to Switzerland, Hippie.

  8. Free software to "free" the world? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: -1, Troll

    This sucks. The GPL/BSD licenses etc. should be extended to forbid military usage. Weapons and war has nothing to do with freedom.

    We will all die, thanks america!

  9. I for one by houghi · · Score: 0, Troll

    welcome our new U.S. Defense overlords.

    Uh wait, I don't.

    --
    Don't fight for your country, if your country does not fight for you.
  10. So... by Atrax · · Score: 0, Troll

    ... Now killing people is Open Source?

    OK, so I know, the price of freedom is that bad stuff happens as well as good. But isn't anyone else uncomfortable with the US Ministry of Violent Death using your code to, essentially, kill people?

    --
    Screw you all! I'm off to the pub
  11. Re:Does LynxOS really contain Linux code? by argent · · Score: 1, Troll

    I'm hoping FCS switches back to looking at Red Hat - at least they have a track record.

    My experience with Red Hat is that I wouldn't wish the military involved with that track record...

    At least you didn't say they have a good one. :)

  12. Re:What, don't you realize by Anonymous Coward · · Score: -1, Troll

    You moron, NIPRNet is the DoD term for networks connected to the Internet, and no classified information can be on those systems because of it. The vast majority of employees, contractors, and uniformed members of the DoD do not hold clearances, and so most of their IT business is conducted through the NIPRNet, as in Internet.

    I'm not even going to address the rest of your post, as you're talking so far out of your ass you must have used a back hoe to get that info.

  13. Re:What, don't you realize by Anonymous Coward · · Score: -1, Troll

    you: "Sensitive information is indeed transferred internally (not over the internet) through NIPRNet; it is not a DoD term for the internet"

    Please tell me you are only kidding?

    NIPRNet stands for "Non-secured Internet Protocol Router Network".

    What part of the word "non-secure" and "Internet" do you not understand?