In short, Open Source is geeks writing software for geeks, and usability suffers... and maybe that's an inherent problem with the model.
Who's problem is it, really? Why should I be concerned. It bugs me how so many people seem to think that Open Source must be made with easy UI and distibuted to every clueless user on the planet. Are we afraid that if this doesn't happen, this software will disappear?
Why are some concerned with Open Source failing? I find it ironic that the previous two Slashdot stories [1][2] are about the warm fuzziness and myth debunking of open source, then this story is about it's weakness and failure. Open Source ideology has been around since the birth of UNIX. I doubt that it's going to die anytime soon.
So, my heart really bleeds for every non-geek who doesn't get a friendly user interface with the software that he/she didn't pay for handed to them on a silver platter, with a side of fries and a cherry on top. REALLY!
I just can't see how if hackers are going to be dissuaded from developing because they're to (lazy) to build bloated frontends to their powerful apps/tools.
This is an inherent problem for people without the 'know how' or can't figure it out. This doesn't include me. This doesn't include many of the other slashdotters here. I'm certainly not fearful that open source is failing - at least not for me. It's only failing for the 'script-kiddies-of-open-source-software' who won't contribute. Just leech.
The article say that it is because of the binary format of linux executables. How does this make it any easier than lets say, binaries for AIX, Solaris, or any other UNIX system or library format? Are they too complex for Chinese hackers to understand?
Maybe they don't understant thet Linux is a UNIX clone, and implements UNIX style security. If this wasn't the case, you'd think that there would be a many more 'famous' viruses for Linux (and UNIX in general).
Perhaps the translation from Russian is weak, and they really mean 'exploits'.:P
If these people are trying to be credible, they fail with the/. crowd
Isn't there some sort of unwritten rule that says academic and government institutions work for the benefit of the scientific community, not in an attempt to gather revenue? Apparently not, or it's being ignored.
I agree with you, except it can be unreasonable to expect this to work. I mean, I won't say much about government, but academic institutions can really use that revenue. Tuition costs only make up for a small percent of a university's income (speaking for Canadian Universities...). The rest comes from other sources, such as government funding (which is becoming less) and from spinoff businesses from university research and development.
If the university didn't try to turn up a profit, the university could not exist. Tuition from students is not nearly enough to cover the costs of operation.
I agree. Some people are just jerks. I think that this is more of a case of creating hype. It has been mentioned several times here on slashdot about the few ruining it for the many; Jerks are very visable, and because they stand out more, it look as if they hold a higher percentage of the (population) than is really the case.
So back to the hype. Mr. Jon Katz is ever ready to jump on the hype train. It's too bad that bad experiences seem to have more of an impact than good experiences. It's also to bad that people will play on bad experiences to blow things out of proportion. That is what Katz is doing here.
Perhaps people/should/ be forced to think it through before letting it out their mouth and into criticism.
I'm not so sure this is about user concerns, but I can see this as being (partially) the result of government concerns.
Remember the NSA_key scare in M$ Windows? Perhaps something like this was considered. Proprietary software from a US company in another country; Something like that could be used for spying, no?
I think it would be cool (and cheaper than a CRAY) if I could get my hands on several older computers - 486s, classic pentiums, etc. That way, people won't have to spend a small fortune on a gift for me, and I can start building my own beowolf cluster!
Coca Cola "bought" a monopoly at the University of Alberta. Every single store, even one's with contracts with Pepsi Cola (Pizza Hut, KFC) MUST sell Coke.
It really sucks. For one, I like Pepsi better. Two, I used to have an allergy to the caramel colour they put in Coke.
I predict the students here will really be pissed about this news. Many of them were not happy about the Coca Cola monopoly. Now they'll be even more upset that they can't get a decent price on soda (no competitors on campus).
Then again, what the heck am I worried about?! I live in Canada - it's never hot up here!
This is how the media portrays hackers. As much as we should expect the media to dig a little deeper and get a grasp on the issues, they won't. To even try means to add a slant to the issue.
/.ers will just have to learn to cope. A cracker will always be called a hacker. The media will always have a slant on real life.
I don't think that it will be the creation of a new species, but rather the next step in the evolution of humans.
Today, much of the civilized world is dependant on technology, and in the future, I believe the inverse will be true. It won't be US and THEM, but instead, it will be an advanced form of 'US'.
People will be so tightly integrated with computers/technology that nobody will be able to tell the difference between the two.
Slashdot Mirror
In short, Open Source is geeks writing software for geeks, and usability suffers... and maybe that's an inherent problem with the model.
Who's problem is it, really? Why should I be concerned. It bugs me how so many people seem to think that Open Source must be made with easy UI and distibuted to every clueless user on the planet. Are we afraid that if this doesn't happen, this software will disappear?
Why are some concerned with Open Source failing? I find it ironic that the previous two Slashdot stories [1][2] are about the warm fuzziness and myth debunking of open source, then this story is about it's weakness and failure. Open Source ideology has been around since the birth of UNIX. I doubt that it's going to die anytime soon.
So, my heart really bleeds for every non-geek who doesn't get a friendly user interface with the software that he/she didn't pay for handed to them on a silver platter, with a side of fries and a cherry on top. REALLY!
I just can't see how if hackers are going to be dissuaded from developing because they're to (lazy) to build bloated frontends to their powerful apps/tools.
This is an inherent problem for people without the 'know how' or can't figure it out. This doesn't include me. This doesn't include many of the other slashdotters here. I'm certainly not fearful that open source is failing - at least not for me. It's only failing for the 'script-kiddies-of-open-source-software' who won't contribute. Just leech.
Bah!
Yes...
:P
It's really amazing what the slashdot effect will do to online polls.
So, why be so specific to Linux?
The article say that it is because of the binary format of linux executables. How does this make it any easier than lets say, binaries for AIX, Solaris, or any other UNIX system or library format? Are they too complex for Chinese hackers to understand?
Maybe they don't understant thet Linux is a UNIX clone, and implements UNIX style security. If this wasn't the case, you'd think that there would be a many more 'famous' viruses for Linux (and UNIX in general).
Perhaps the translation from Russian is weak, and they really mean 'exploits'. :P
If these people are trying to be credible, they fail with the /. crowd
No no no... Why go through the pope when you can speak directly to Jesus Christ Himself? I think that would be more effective.
prayer://jesus.christ/
I agree with you, except it can be unreasonable to expect this to work. I mean, I won't say much about government, but academic institutions can really use that revenue. Tuition costs only make up for a small percent of a university's income (speaking for Canadian Universities...). The rest comes from other sources, such as government funding (which is becoming less) and from spinoff businesses from university research and development.
If the university didn't try to turn up a profit, the university could not exist. Tuition from students is not nearly enough to cover the costs of operation.
I agree. Some people are just jerks. I think that this is more of a case of creating hype. It has been mentioned several times here on slashdot about the few ruining it for the many; Jerks are very visable, and because they stand out more, it look as if they hold a higher percentage of the (population) than is really the case.
So back to the hype. Mr. Jon Katz is ever ready to jump on the hype train. It's too bad that bad experiences seem to have more of an impact than good experiences. It's also to bad that people will play on bad experiences to blow things out of proportion. That is what Katz is doing here.
But then Jon Katz would be out of a job!
I guess not...
Red Hat isn't on their Sponsor list (see bottom of page)
Syngress is selling a RHCE (Red Hat Certified Engineer) study guide.
I wonder if it'll be on the LPI recommended reading list?
I'm not so sure this is about user concerns, but I can see this as being (partially) the result of government concerns.
Remember the NSA_key scare in M$ Windows? Perhaps something like this was considered. Proprietary software from a US company in another country; Something like that could be used for spying, no?
Ahh, man! Now I'm gonna get lynched!
No more freakin' mousepads!
I think it would be cool (and cheaper than a CRAY) if I could get my hands on several older computers - 486s, classic pentiums, etc. That way, people won't have to spend a small fortune on a gift for me, and I can start building my own beowolf cluster!
No, stupid. It doesn't.
Moron.
Coca Cola "bought" a monopoly at the University of Alberta. Every single store, even one's with contracts with Pepsi Cola (Pizza Hut, KFC) MUST sell Coke.
It really sucks. For one, I like Pepsi better. Two, I used to have an allergy to the caramel colour they put in Coke.
I predict the students here will really be pissed about this news. Many of them were not happy about the Coca Cola monopoly. Now they'll be even more upset that they can't get a decent price on soda (no competitors on campus).
Then again, what the heck am I worried about?! I live in Canada - it's never hot up here!
Does that mean Coke will be cheaper up here?
This is how the media portrays hackers. As much as we should expect the media to dig a little deeper and get a grasp on the issues, they won't. To even try means to add a slant to the issue.
/.ers will just have to learn to cope. A cracker will always be called a hacker. The media will always have a slant on real life.
Just like /.ers do. :P
I don't think that it will be the creation of a new species, but rather the next step in the evolution of humans.
Today, much of the civilized world is dependant on technology, and in the future, I believe the inverse will be true. It won't be US and THEM, but instead, it will be an advanced form of 'US'.
People will be so tightly integrated with computers/technology that nobody will be able to tell the difference between the two.
Self proclaimed animal rights activists, religious vindicates and Linux advocates...
They're all the same: Only a miniscule percentage of them have all the facts.
I'd be more ashamed to be a Windows user that posts something to the same effect:
"Windows RuLZ! LInUx SuCKS!"
I wonder what kind of intel beast is required to run the bloated OS?
Check out the Status link in the site:
----
8/3/99 Events
3:22pm - Network connections down due to router failure, possibly related to thunderstorms and power failures in the area
2:59pm - Network connections intermittently up
12:40pm - Network connections down due to router failure
11:02am - Services restarted
10:47am - Some services failed after reboot
10:45am - Reboot because the System log was full
10:30am - Network connections down due to router failure
----
Heh. Power failure?! Router problems? Are they SURE?
Heh heh. Something that would be really funny:
They find the guy, and find out he sent the email from an M$ Exchange server. Ha ha ha!
That's as funny as http://homepages.msn.com using Apache,
-
Christopher Richard