Slashdot Mirror

← Back to Stories (view on slashdot.org)

OSDL's Mobile Linux Initiative

Posted by CmdrTaco on from the and-it-fits-in-the-palm-of-your-hand dept.

Rob writes "The Open Source Development Labs has introduced a new initiative to accelerate the adoption of Linux in the mobile market by providing a forum for device manufacturers, network operators, and application developers. Like the OSDL's other working groups, the MLI will provide a forum for creating requirement specifications based on existing implementations and invest in existing and new mobile Linux projects to identify and fill gaps in the open source operating system's functionality."

4 of 41 comments (clear)

  1. Desktop Linux Improvements by CyricZ · · Score: 3, Interesting

    Would any of the improvements enhance the desktop Linux experience? Indeed, applications designed for the minimalistic hardware of many handhelds could potentially perform amazingly on a high-powered, modern desktop.

    --
    Cyric Zndovzny at your service.
  2. What sort of gaps are they trying to fill? by CyricZ · · Score: 3, Interesting

    The article itself isn't very technical. Can anyone shed some light onto what sort of gaps they're trying to fill?

    It does list some of the technical areas to be worked on:
    real-time, power management, security, memory footprint, and fast boot functionality

    However, what specifically could be improved in each area? Would such improvements be of any benefit to server or desktop applications in a significant way?

    --
    Cyric Zndovzny at your service.
  3. Re:Linux's weak point? by CyricZ · · Score: 2, Interesting

    Perhaps it's more an issue of trying to focus on too many markets at once. Quite opposite to the UNIX credo of doing one thing, and doing it well, it seems that some people want Linux to do everything these days on all sorts of systems. Handhelds have vastly different needs than servers, and desktops differ from both of those. You're going to run into problems when you try to make one piece of software perform excellently on such varied environments, each with vastly different requirements.

    --
    Cyric Zndovzny at your service.
  4. Using Python and Ruby for handheld development. by CyricZ · · Score: 2, Interesting

    Will they be looking into the use of Ruby and Python for application development on such handheld devices? Indeed, many cell phones use Java-based programming environments. Considering how much better that Python and Ruby often perform than Java for desktop applications, it would seem plausible that they may have a place on such devices.

    --
    Cyric Zndovzny at your service.