Standard Linux - is it possible?

I've read a post by Dana Blankenhorn, who "has been a business journalist for nearly 25 years and has covered the online world professionally since 1985".

Here's a trackback to a story.

He's talking about running a "standard" Linux distribution. Not choosing one, but rather, using one.

I like his way of thinking actually. If mostly used distribution is Ubuntu, doesn't that makes it "standard"? Wouldn't it be easier for all to create and distribute products that would work with this vendor? Wouldn't it be great to optimize ourselves to work with/on it the best way possible?

Well, yes and no.

Yes because all Linux distributions (and Ubuntu in particular) are built alike. All of them include the kernel (it is a kernel what makes Linux after all), basic software, X server system (with great graphics support), management tools and software, which is generally the same on all of them. So, when an application or product is "ready" for Ubuntu, is will not be daunting or hard task to make it work with almost any other Linux distribution.

And no because it seems to me we already been in this scenario. Just imagine: a real alternative to Microsoft's and Apple's OSes, and a good one. It is so good, that many vendors start creating a products for it and based on it. Hardware vendors provide drivers and optimize their hardware. Accessories are made. Software is getting better. Ain't it great? The world, where at least one distribution becomes as good as commercial operating systems?

But that is exactly the world we're trying to change. We don't want the "lock-in" on a single vendor. I don't want to be forced to use something I don't choose by myself. We already have such vendor in our midst. Wanna guess who that is?

Isn't that the reason we do what we do with free software in the first place?

I'm all for innovation. I'm in favor of competition. I am in favor of trying to achieve high goals.

But I can't stand a choice forced on me. Even with best intentions in mind.

Technorati : Linux, Ubuntu, technology

Computing revised Part II

So, in Part I I've been talking about how computing has evolved and how can we make it even better. I will continue exploring different users types now, in a race to make the computing easier.

3. Business user.

So, a business user, is as name says, a user which mainly uses computer systems in businesses. Such environments include corporate email systems, corporate applications such as SAP (resource management), databases applications, and such. Requirements of such user aren't high, but important: she doesn't need really fast system, but would not appose to one, she doesn't need a fast applications but would like them. She needs system to be operational, meaning she wants a system to be stable and she's willing to give up some other features towards that. Interoperability is also very important requirement, as work is needed to be done and no compatibility issues would not be tolerated - if the system can't deliver, it won't be used. There's no or almost no powerful graphics required.

4. Power User

Power user is a user which has high but specific requirements. Those would be:

• a server system (high performance CPUs, bus, hard drives)
  
• a cluster (high performance networking)
  
• a graphics render cluster (high performance graphics, networking and sometimes CPU and hard drives)
  
• a corporate server (may have stability and failover features as main requirement)
  
• CAD/Graphics developer (would require high performance graphics and CPU)
  

Such users will choose dominant requirement on computer system, and would trade all other features for a major one. Almost all other features would not be very important. The main requirements can be regarding either hardware or software.

In next part I will continue review of different users of computer systems.

Technorati : technology

Computing revised - Part I

Hi all

This is what I've been recently thinking. We're all hearing a lot about computing development. Our systems evolve. They become more powerful, software more bloated (but sometimes better), and our spending grows.

Why? Why do we have to buy a new computer every few years? Is the one we have not enough anymore? If we consider the tasks we perform on it, then not necessarily. Lets define few supposedly major computer users in the world:

1. Low-level developer
2. High-level developer
   
3. Business User
   
4. Power User
5. Home User
6. Gamer
   
7. Mobile user / Small mobile user
   
8. Embedded device (special one)

So I will try to explain those types of computer system users. Each user will have different "relations" with hardware and software, and for each one the importance of these lies in different usage patterns. Then I will try to analyze each one's habits, and try to find ways to improve upon those. In the end, I will try to perform a "research" about how can we make the computing experience better than it is today.

Let me begin then. I'm going to explain what I mean by user types:

1. Low-level developer.
Low level developer in my book, is a developer of computing hardware or devices. This computer user doesn't generally have high requirements, he often uses very specific hardware/devices or those created by him or other developers alike. Software he uses generally specific as well, and not required by majority of other computer users. His major requirement is that a computer system will work stable, consistent and predictable. There's almost never requirement of high performance (unless the hardware/device itself created for providing it) or "pretty GUI" (unless, again, provided by the very hardware being developed).


2. High-Level developer.
This type of a user is different from a previous one. This is a developer of a software. Software can be of any kind: Operating system, drivers, office applications, graphical applications, internet/email applications, or games. This type of user will almost always request for the fastest processors available, fastest hard drives available. Multiple processors are welcomed if possible. Graphics power will not always mean much (unless application development requires such a thing). Software he uses is not very special, and can be similar to that used by many other users.

In the next part I will continue talking about different user types, and will explain them more.

Political Gentoo

So, the last week has been kinda weird.

First, I was sad to witness bitterness and some sort of despair in Gentoo community. Lot of people feel that something isn't right, but at the same time there's a feeling that nothing could be done to fix it.

I'd suggest the following:
All Gentoo developers take the leave from working on Gentoo and have a break to have some fun in their own private lives. Then, in 30 days, council should be brought back to urgent meeting about future of Gentoo, with the following contributors:
1. Project/Subproject Leads
2. Developers
3. Users
Then, decide upon Gentoo's future, both technical (what is Gentoo? where should it be heading?) and social (what is devrel/userrel/userreps? how do they perform? how do they enforce policies? are policies well understood by all parties?)
And then, come back and start making great things together.

I know, I know, it just sounds great to me and will never be implemented.

It is sad, because Gentoo is a great distribution and a great technical effort made by community. I understand, that in free community you can only count on yourself or long-known peers, as it is free, disperse and voluntary. But many such communities choose to follow some sort of netiquette, which explains sort of a etiquette expected from all the members, and also establishes some way of enforcing an appropriate behavior.

Is bad behavior allowed in free community? Yes. It should, as "bad" is only subjective, and being "bad" means saying and/or doing something others do not like or want. But in free society, all things should be allowed.

But what should one do, when these things hurt or insult someone else? Well, in "democracy", there's a concept of decision making. If there's a majority for decision, but the decision itself implies hurting the minority, then the decision is banned as "non-democratic".

Which means, that "bad" behavior can be tolerated but some "objective" countability should be established and sort of "punishment" will have place. Punishment, in general, will be either temporal or permanent removal from society.

So how can all this be done with free community such as Gentoo? I don't know. I just hope, that despair that I feel inside the community is temporary, and soon will be dealt with.

I really love Gentoo, both technically and socially, and I'm ready to provide any help necessary and I will gladly do anything I can (and "official Gentoo" will accept) to make things better.

Second, on a side note: I got a Gentoo T-shirt for my birthday! So geeky....

Eight Principles of Fun

So, with unbelievable urge to write one more entry in a very short while, here it goes.

First, regarding my previous post.

I just read Seemant's blog entry, where he's saying exactly the same thing as I do. Bummer. So I'm not the only one saddened by this issue.

I just hope that Gentoo's internal issues can be resolved by right behavior by key people. That means, council, devrel and userrel, and I know there are many great people there who can resolve everything I give them my trust for this.

Now, to a fun part. I found really nice site talking about 8 principles of having fun with life. Take a look here, and have fun yourself.

And of course, enjoy life.

Money stuff and sad Gentoo stuff.

Well, this is not really Gentoo related.

Recently, I moved to a new place. As a result, I found (although I knew it beforehand as well, just didn't see the numbers) two very important things:

1. My rent went up ~ 2.7 times; and
2. My spare monthly cash went down ~ 3 times

Which means, essentially and unfortunately, that I will probably not be buying a new laptop this year :-(. Which, in turn, sucks

As result, I started managing my finances in much more strict way than before. I also started reading nice blog about personal finances management - The Simple Dollar. Useful in general and especially for living in US, as all practical advices are made by people living there.

Now, as for Gentoo related stuff - I was sad to find out last week that Diego "flameeys" Petteno has resigned his Gentoo position. Although I am glad to see him joining this planet, I'm sad that great people are leaving their developer positions because of internal Gentoo problems. I've seen what Diego gave as an example of the problem which led to his retiring, and all I can say is - childish behavior (not on Diego's behalf). This is very childish behavior that should not happen if project wants to grow. I think that devrel should really get involved into solving such problems as soon as possible. As I understand, that's the reason for devrel to exist.

Very sad news, it also affects me as user, and lowers my own motivation to participate.

A note to planet users: if you have a problem with your Larry The Cow planet feed, please let me know (by mailing to djay-il at gentoo-userreps dot org). You can also find me on Freenode IRC channels #gentoo-userrel or #gentoo-userreps.

Enjoy life.