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Gnome Founder Miguel de Icaza Moves To Mac

TrueSatan writes "Miguel de Icaza, via his blog, has explained his gradual move to the Apple Mac platform. 'While I missed the comprehensive Linux toolchain and userland, I did not miss having to chase the proper package for my current version of Linux, or beg someone to package something. Binaries just worked.' Here is one of his main reasons: 'To me, the fragmentation of Linux as a platform, the multiple incompatible distros, and the incompatibilities across versions of the same distro were my Three Mile Island/Chernobyl.' Reaction to his announcement includes a blog post from Jonathan Riddell of Blue Systems/Kubuntu. Given de Icaza's past association with Microsoft (CodePlex Foundation) and the Free Software Foundation's founder Richard Stallman's description of de Icaza as a 'traitor to the free software community,' this might be seen as more of a blow to Microsoft than to GNU/Linux."

26 of 815 comments (clear)

  1. Good Riddance by binarylarry · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Now he's going to try to clone all of Microsoft's clones of other people's technology for the Mac.

    Lets see how far that gets him.

    --
    Mod me down, my New Earth Global Warmingist friends!
  2. I did this a long time ago... by weilawei · · Score: 5, Insightful

    And never looked back. Linux maintains its place as my workhorse, while I rest in the comfort of whichever other OS I feel like using that day, typically OS X or iOS. SSH and SFTP fill the gaps.

    1. Re:I did this a long time ago... by LordMael · · Score: 5, Informative

      I just recently gave up on windows 7 and moved to linux (fedora) for my main work machine. It is running great on my laptop with none of the issues that Miguel mentioned (albiet his were a while ago) and runs all the tools I need to manage a 600+ site global WAN. (yes, even cisco CSM 4.2 runs in linux via wine with no real issues and about 3 minutes of prep before running the installer even under 64bit linux) I don't think i'll ever go back to windows for anything other than for my gaming rig at home :)

  3. So he is leaving... by Linegod · · Score: 5, Funny

    So he is leaving the mess he caused?

    --
    -- I care not for your foolish signatures.
  4. Whatever.... by tetrahedrassface · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Been running Linux for 15 years now, and it's better than it ever has been. I guess this guy just lost whatever zeal he never really had in the first place for free software.....Read his blog post and it seems like he's just bored or lazy, or both. Oh well......

    1. Re:Whatever.... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Interesting

      "Been running Linux for 15 years now, and it's better than it ever has been."

      You're right, it is better than it ever has been. I cut my teeth on Slackware, back when a bad X11 .config actually fucked up your monitor. And I did just that. Through it all, there was never a better operating system that was as open or as flexible as Linux. I could run it on cobbled together parts from dead x86 boxes pulled from dumpster dives.

      Now that I actually have some disposable income, I chose a Mac. Why? It let's me get shit done instead of fiddle-fucking with things that I don't honestly care about anymore. Back in college, I had all the time to compile and tweak libproffer0.2.3 from alpha to see if I could get it work. Now, I'd rather just pop in a DVD or download a binary blob and drag it to /Applications. My family time is limited and I'd rather be spending it with them. Does that mean the extra few hundred bucks was wasted? Maybe. I'd gladly trade that. My circumstances are my own experiences, but these are my opinions.

    2. Re:Whatever.... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Insightful

      Many things changed since you had to "compile and tweak libproffer0.2.3". Today Linux just works, and for me personally it is much easier to use than Windows. So, "My family time is limited and I'd rather be spending it with them" than uninstalling "Antivirus 2000" trojan or Ask.com toolbar.

    3. Re:Whatever.... by Hal_Porter · · Score: 5, Funny

      Now, I'd rather just pop in a DVD or download a binary blob and drag it to /Applications. My family time is limited and I'd rather be spending it with them.

      That's what the Germans probably said. "I don't care about elections and a free press and all that stuff. I'd rather just have the NAZIS sort things out so I can spend time with my Kinder, Kuche, Kirche"

      Now you may say the comparison between Apple and the NAZIS is a bit hyperbolic. But is it really? Both Apple fans and the SS wore mostly black clothes and are almost entirely Caucasian. Sure there are some Asians in there, but then NAZIS were quite keen on the Japanese.

      The more you think of it, the more you realise that buying an Apple produced device is exactly the same as voting for the NAZIS.

      Still it's better than using Linux or bloody Windows 8.

      --
      echo -e 'global _start\n _start:\n mov eax, 2\n int 80h\n jmp _start' > a.asm; nasm a.asm -f elf; ld a.o -o a;
    4. Re:Whatever.... by Gavagai80 · · Score: 5, Insightful

      I'm too lazy to pop in any DVDs or download any binary blobs, which is a major reason I prefer linux. I can't remember the last time I wanted something that wasn't in the repositories.

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      This space intentionally left blank
  5. Join the party by Alimony+Pakhdan · · Score: 5, Interesting

    I did the same about 10 years ago for the same reasons. Oddly enough it was the people at the local LUG with their iBooks & MacBooks that made me realize something was amiss.

  6. This is a true statement by metrix007 · · Score: 5, Insightful

    It doesn't matter his affiliation or if he likes or even works for MS or not. Judge the statement on it's own, and it's true.

    It's something Linux geeks have trouble admitting, but it is the sole reason Linux usage has not skyrocketed in adoption. If the LSB worked anthing close to how it was envisioned, developers would flock to the platform and then so would users.

    At the moment, people use the distro they like and defend, while non linux geeks use distros like Ubuntu or Mint, which are the only platforms commercial developers tend to target.

    --
    If you ignore ACs because they are anonymous - you're an idiot.
  7. In this case... by MouseTheLuckyDog · · Score: 5, Funny

    Apple's loss is Linux's gain.

  8. Back in the day... by CyberSnyder · · Score: 5, Interesting

    I liked to tinker with configs and settings and libraries, but now I like my home computer to just work. They cost more, but are worth it. I still have a unix command line and most of the open source tools but have access to commercial software as well.

    Yummy KoolAid.

  9. Gnome 3 so shitty by Osgeld · · Score: 5, Funny

    founder buys a mac and doesnt look back

  10. de Icaza by jgotts · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Please refrain from attacking de Icaza for these simple reasons.

    Like Stallman, de Icaza has donated countless hours of organization and programming time to Linux. Neither got rich as a result. Politics aside, Linux is about superior engineering, even if only as a side effect. Because of the efforts of these two individuals, among many others, Linux is now the most popular operating system on the planet. By any stretch of the imagination, they were and are victorious. Android is closing in on a billion users, but regardless of what Google's marketing materials may tell you, Android is a Linux distribution, and GNU and GNOME have been perfecting Linux distributions for over two decades.

    I understand that Android does not ship with much GNU or GNOME software, but GNU and GNOME are what built Linux. Without either, the foundations upon which Android runs would never have accreted enough functionality to even think about running a smartphone.

    As mostly non-rich people, often not closely allied with specific companies, we don't have publicists or agents. We don't come off as polished. We don't have speech writers. Forgive us for seeming offensive, rude, obnoxious, conceited, full of ourselves, or some other adjective. We're people, and as engineers we're trained to traffic in the honest truth. Once you meet us you'll like us, for the most part. And even if you don't, enjoy using our software. Contribute if you like.

  11. Re:Richard Stallman is a shitheel by mystikkman · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Mono was a pointless waste of time and De Icaza is a quisling turn coat. Apple deserves that worthless pile of donkey shit.

    Lets see:

    Miguel's contributions to Linux:

    1) Midnight Commander
    2) Contributions to Wine
    3) He worked with David S. Miller on the Linux SPARC port and wrote several of the video and network drivers in the port, as well as the libc ports to the platform.
    4) They both later worked on extending Linux for MIPS to run on SGI's Indy computers and wrote the original X drivers for the system.
    5) With Ingo Molnar he wrote the original software implementation of RAID-1 and RAID-5 drivers of the Linux kernel
    6) De Icaza started the GNOME project with Federico Mena in August 1997 to create a completely free desktop environment and component model for Linux and other Unix-like operating systems.
    7) He also created the GNOME spreadsheet program, Gnumeric.

    Your contributions to Slashdot:
    1) Silly karmawhoring hatefilled anti-Microsoft rants on Slashdot

    Who has made better contributions to the progress of Open Source?

  12. I find it entertaining... by Nite_Hawk · · Score: 5, Interesting

    As I sit here on my MacBook Air running Ubuntu, working on Ceph (ie getting stuff done!) while browsing slashdot. I've tried OSX many times, and I keep coming back to Linux because it's so much *more* productive, especially when working on code. The only thing I miss is netflix.

    So whatever. I still have a soft spot for Apple hardware, but I'll stick with Linux thank-you-very-much.

  13. Re:It's been decades. by MightyYar · · Score: 5, Interesting

    I don't understand this thought at all. I run a mixed environment at home, and it all works pretty well. I have a FreeBSD ZFS server in the basement happily running AFP and acting as a Time Machine target. I also have it running CrashPlan in Linux emulation as a target for my friends, family, and Windows PC. The Windows PC speaks happily to FreeBSD via Samba. Firefox works almost identically on all three platforms, syncing passwords and bookmarks. OpenOffice works on all three as well. CrashPlan client runs just fine on two Macs and the PC. Even Apple proprietary crap like iTunes and Airplay runs across platforms. As long as you try to steer clear of single-platform applications, everything works together pretty well. It would not be a big deal if I suddenly had to ditch Mac or Windows (and believe me, Windows 8 has made me consider the latter).

    The truth is, there is no "ecosystem" if you are careful in your application and hardware purchases. That MacBook will happily run Linux or Windows if you get disgusted with MacOS. That Windows PC will happily run just about anything if you get disgusted at MS. Keep your data in an accessible format, and you are golden when you switch platforms.

    Besides, as a geek your friends and family depend on you to be an expert at anything with electrons. :)

    --
    W..w..W - Willy Waterloo washes Warren Wiggins who is washing Waldo Woo.
  14. Re:It's been decades. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Because you equate it doesn't make it fact. Slavery has a very strict definition and you're twisting of it does good for no one.

  15. I went the other way, OS X - Linux by Geof · · Score: 5, Interesting

    I went the other way about two and a half years ago. I'm sure someone will tell me I was doing it wrong; I wouldn't be surprised if they're right. But I found the FOSS package managers for OS X incredibly painful to work with. I remember it taking at least a day of mucking around with compiling and pre-built binaries just to get the tools I needed for web development. It took me ten minutes to get the same thing working in Ubuntu.

    Still, there were plenty of headaches: sleep mode, hybrid graphics and synaptics. Even though I had been avoiding dependence on proprietary software since activation chased me away from Windows, I had to give up really useful Mac tools like Scrivener, Tinderbox and Screen Flow (I still boot the Mac when I need to do a screencast). I used to be a programmer. Now I'm a social scientist. These days I do mostly reading and writing, not programming; the loss of Scrivener was a hard blow. I smoothed the way by writing my own tool.

    OS X was significantly better for all but the most ordinary end-user applications. My area of research is the online commons - copyright, FOSS, creative commons - stuff like that. I could make my peace with Apple when they were only a pipsqueak tyrant. When they released the iPad and it was locked down, I simply couldn't stomach it anymore: and I was tying myself to an ecosystem that could be progressively enclosed by Apple. A friend of mine - a social scientist, not a programmer - switched to Mint, proving it was finally doable. Also, XMonad is pretty cool, and my search for a decent editor finally led me to take vim seriously.

    Linux isn't perfect, but it's come a long way since I first used it for development in 1993. It really is usable - and sometimes excellent - for everyday work. Using a platform is supporting that platform. I wouldn't tell anyone else what to do, but I'm content to use this one.

  16. Re:It's been decades. by Grayhand · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Time to open up OSX and allow it to be installed on any computer.

    A tired response to a tired post. Apple is a hardware maker not an OS maker. They only make OSs to support their hardware. This explains the price difference between Mac upgrades and Windows upgrades. They make their profits off the hardware. They could potentially offer a version of the OS at a higher price that could be installed on PCs but people like you would complain about the price difference. They can't win this argument so why play the game? You want open there's Linux. You want Mac OS then there's Macs. You want everything your way, life sucks and get used to it! Christ when I was in my teens computers ran off Cassette drives! Be happy. 20 years ago Macs cost the same as a car. Cars got more expensive and Macs got cheaper and you're still complaining! Your average smart phone has a 100X the power of my first computer. My iPad would have probably been a super computer when I was a kid. If you were thrown back in time to the 70s or 80s you'd think you were in hell. Just imagine the 60s, as in pre calculator days when computers ran off punch cards. You're living in a time of miracles and you're whining about running OSX on hardware it was never designed to run on! My expartner bought a Mac clone off some one that claimed it worked faster than a Mac Pro. The damned thing was slower than a Mac Mini and crashed constantly. I made him take it back to the idiot that sold it to him. Is that what you want? A slower than hell OSX that crashes constantly? I'm sure you'd just blame Apple for not supporting PC hardware better!

  17. Re:de Icaza by Hal_Porter · · Score: 5, Funny

    objdump -d exefile

    Is far more complete than

    man exefile

    once you get past the learning curve.

    --
    echo -e 'global _start\n _start:\n mov eax, 2\n int 80h\n jmp _start' > a.asm; nasm a.asm -f elf; ld a.o -o a;
  18. that's my fantasy, too by tutufan · · Score: 5, Interesting

    I hear what you're saying about Getting Shit Done. I have that fantasy, too, and occasionally let it play out. Although I've been a mostly-Linux guy since the 90s, I've been jones-ing for some sequencing software that would "Just Work" that I could run on a platform that would "Just Work". Bought Ableton Live and a Mac Mini to run it on. (That's well over $1000, by the way.) If there's anything that should "Just Work", it should be this.

    But I almost immediately tripped over the same old minor glitches I've seen on every other platform I've ever used. In this case, the problem is that Ableton perversely installs itself in such as way that only one user can run it (though the license is for the whole box). So, I dutifully tracked down the arcane procedure for making it available system-wide (just as you get with Linux apps by default, I might add), and a couple hours later it's doing what it should have done in the first place. Yes, it works, but it doesn't "Just Work".

  19. de Icaza flees mess he caused. by SEE · · Score: 5, Insightful

    The guy who launched GNOME as a counter to KDE is complaining about "the fragmentation of Linux as a platform"? Tthe guy who made the decision replace GNUstep (which was the GNU project's official toolkit/framework in 1996) in favor of GTK â" he's fled to the Mac? He's got the chutzpah to say, "Linux just never managed to cross the desktop chasm"â"without admitting that his decisions are a major cause of that failure?

    Good damn riddance.

  20. Re:I'll second that. by Tough+Love · · Score: 5, Insightful

    The Gnome project was a disaster from beginning to end. It accomplished exactly one useful thing: Trolltech was forced to GPL QT. At that point, Gnome should have been promptly shut down, having accomplished its purpose, and Linux on the desktop would be much further advanced than it is. But instead we have this crippled zombie thing that shambles on and on. Somebody put a stake in its heart or something please.

    --
    When all you have is a hammer, every problem starts to look like a thumb.
  21. Re:I'll second that. by BrokenHalo · · Score: 5, Insightful

    I don't think it's very fair to say the Gnome project was a disaster. Sure, in the context of present-day desktop environments, GNOME 1.x looks pretty damn horrible now. But back then, comparing it to KDE (which, to be fair, was in some respects the more reliably functional interface) it was not bad. At that time, I really hated KDE, since it was so kfucking kluttered and kfugly.

    I stuck with GNOME from 1997 until the end of the 2.x versions, since it did what I needed it to do reasonably well. Meanwhile, the early KDE 4.x releases were unusable. Sadly, GNOME 3.x has followed suit (and appears set to stay that way), while KDE has re-evolved itself in recent versions as a really nice, feature-rich environment.