QNX "Opens" Source Code

Arista writes "QNX has announced that effective immediately, the company will open the source code to its QNX embedded, RTOS, microkernel operating system. From the press release: "Effective immediately, QNX will make source code for its award-winning, microkernel-based OS available for free download. The first source release includes the code to the QNX Neutrino microkernel, the base C library, and a variety of board support packages for popular embedded and computing hardware." OSNews features an interview with the CEO of QNX, Dan Dodge, on this announcement."

Comments

That's cool

[suso]

These are the guys that released that really cool Desktop GUI + PPP stack + web browser and OS on a single floppy disk back in the 90s. I remember also reading that the Photon GUI would let you pass applications between computers through a dock on the side of the screen. Neat stuff.

Re:That's cool

[TheRaven64]

I've never heard of a successful open source project using dual licensing! From TFA:

We aren't releasing the OS code under an open source license. Dual licensing is fine, but none of them is open source. Also from TFA:

If fact, we're providing three licenses: one for commercial users, one for noncommercial users, and one for QNX technology partners. It's no different from Microsoft's Shared Source. None of the licenses counts as Free Software.

Re:That's cool

[Mr. Slippery]

To many, `open source' simply means the source is available.

"Open source" is a term of art with a very specific meaning.

Anyone in the software field, or any related field, who thinks that "open source simply means the source is available" is dangerously ignorant.

Re:Under what license

[betterunixthanunix]

TFA:

" under a new hybrid software licensing arrangement. "

And:

" Access to QNX source code is free, but commercial deployments of QNX Neutrino runtime components still require royalties, and commercial developers will continue to pay for QNX Momentics® development seats. "

(Hint: It's definitely not GPL)

It's "shared", not "opened".

[darkonc]

Don't drink the PR Cool-Aid(tm) boys. Distinguish this PR hype from reality and call it what it really is -- "Shared Source". It's not Open Source(tm), and it's not "Free".

You need licenses to do things like release your own version, and that puts it in the same ballpark as Microsoft's shared source initiative.