Monday, April 18, 2005

Is Linux becoming Windows?

From ZDNet: � Is Linux becoming Windows?:

Some people are starting to think so. There is support for so many features in the Linux 2.6 kernel that it may be getting so fat as to be unstable.

The Open source community that's seeing a problem is CA. Not the most obvious Open Source Company. Mind you, they seem to be getting their fingers into a lot of pies at the moment.

Now, sure, I see the logic that says you can build yourself a custom kernel. But you shouldn't have to mess like this - I still can't understand why Linux can't accept a stable driver ABI and make every kernel feature a loadable module (and have it support loadable modules for 5 years or more). After all, Solaris can do it, why can't Linux?

Actually, I don't think it's just restricted to Linux, or the Kernel. I see other open-source projects getting to be more like windows, in terms of bloat and complexity - modern desktop environments spring to mind.

1 comment:

Binary Crusader said...

I still can't understand why Linux can't accept a stable driver ABI and make every kernel feature a loadable module (and have it support loadable modules for 5 years or more).

Because that would facilitate binary drivers, and since all the "real" open source drivers are in the kernel, they're free to do whatever the heck they want and constantly "improve" the ABI. Ppffttt...

What a crapload. I hope OpenSolaris takes over and chainsaws the Roaring Penguin to death.