Is Linux Splitting into Two Factions?
With the recent news of several Linux vendors entering into partnership agreements with Microsoft (Novell, Linspire, Xandros), there has been much debate recently about two factions of Linux forming. Saying that Linux is going to be torn in two, makes for good press and lively debates, but this is certainly nothing new for Linux. There are far more material splits today in the Linux world, such as Debian vs RPM, KDE vs GNOME, Distro A vs Distro B, and so on. These divisions are quite material, and dilute significant energy and efforts across competing standards. However, we accept this as the price we pay for freedom of choice.
I personally prefer Debian over RPM, KDE over GNOME, and, of course, I prefer Linspire over other distributions; but, this doesn't mean I think those who prefer RPM, GNOME, and other distributions should stop what they are doing and focus all their energy on Debian, KDE and Linspire. Each is free to choose what works best for them. As long as there are enough people interested in a particular approach, it's likely that approach will continue and be available to those who choose it. This is why there are hundreds of different Linux distributions today.
Is Microsoft just selling the ammo? Or, is Microsoft fighting the wrong war with the wrong weapons?
Microsoft's partnership with Novell got a lot of people in the open-source community fired up. Since then, Microsoft's Linux deals with Linspire and Xandros have just thrown gasoline on the fire. Now, it appears that Red Hat, the leading Linux company and the most vocal opponent to Microsoft wheeling and dealing, tried to make its own deal with Microsoft before the Novell one was released.
The real world though isn't black and white. Open source versus free software, Microsoft Linux partners vs. non-Microsoft Linux partners, is a spectrum, not an either/or choice.
Mark Shuttleworth, CEO of Canonical, the company behind Ubuntu, for example, has stated that he's not about to make a patent deal with Microsoft. He hasn't, however, ruled out making other kinds of partnerships with Microsoft. Novell, on the other hand, Microsoft patent deal and all, has said time and again that it doesn't agree with Microsoft's nonsense that having a patent agreement means agreeing that Microsoft patents have anything to do with Linux.
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