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Google Doubles Down on Linux and Open Source (zdnet.com)
Steven J. Vaughan-Nichols, writing for ZDNet: Google couldn't exist without Linux and open-source software. While you may not think of Google as a Linux company in the same way as you do Canonical, Red Hat, or SUSE, it wouldn't be the search and advertising giant it is today without Linux. So, it makes sense that Google is moving up from its Silver membership in The Linux Foundation, to the Platinum level. With this jump in status, Google gets a seat on the Foundation's board of directors. This position will be filled by Sarah Novotny, the head of open source strategy for Google Cloud Platform. Earlier this week, Chinese tech giant Tencent joined the Linux Foundation as a platinum member.
That and if you have millions/billions of dollars invested in a Linux Infrastructure. Do you really want your competitors make decisions on what direction the product takes?
If something is so important that you feel the need to post it on the internet... It probably isn't that important.
Why do I get the feeling this is less about Google doubling-down on Open Source / Linux, and has more to do with the fact they don't want to be out-done by Microsoft, who is already a Platinum level member. This is just more of a corporate pissing contest.
Google couldn't exist without Linux and open-source software...
Uh, given this fact, Google should have recognized the relationship and upped their membership (and contributions) long ago. Cheap bastards.
At the same time, it is pathetic that Google was not at the highest level of membership already. See, there is a significant faction at Google that hates Linux and everything GPL. This faction has largely had the upper hand so far because of apathy in the executive suite. The usual theory "we are so rich so everything we do must be right". Including treating Linux as a second class citizen in favour of their BSD stable. Now they are forced by Microsoft to take a position. Ironic indeed.
When all you have is a hammer, every problem starts to look like a thumb.
And scaling back ChromeOS product developement.
Yea, I don't understand how that's increasing the support for Linux.
I'd describe it as lining the pockets of The Linux Foundation and installing an insider that can steer Linux towards what Google wants, which apparently includes the destruction of Linux. (see above)
in short - Google and The Linux Foundation are full of shit.
It's such a massive, glaring omission it's kind of mind boggling. They have a Google Music Manager client for linux for christ's sake. I realize linux users are a rounding error and writing client software costs a lot of money, but we're talking key users. That's a lot of developers you'd ideally want in your ecosystem. But I'm sure Google knows more about this than I do and they've made the decision to omit linux for a reason.
Linux on the desktop is fucking wonderful. It's just not very user-friendly, and so doesn't appeal to a large audience.
I can't imagine having my primary desktop being anything else anymore, after years of using Windows and MacOS.
I of course acknowledge that that is an opinion, and inherently worthless- much like your post.