Open-Source Software (OSS) Open-Source Software (OSS) and Linuxand Linux

Feb. 25, 2008

by

Larry Finger

Open Source ProjectsOpen Source ProjectsMany hundreds of such projectsExamples:

Linux Kernel Picasa Open Office Firefox KDE or Gnome Desktops gcc – system compiler

Quotes about OSS Quotes about OSS “The OSS is a meritocracy. If you are the chairman of IBM and you submit a patch to the kernel or KDE that is rubbish, they will tell you. They don't care who you are, how much experience you have, or how nice a guy you are... Your code is judged on its merit rather than on you.”

Mike Arthur on his blog at mikearthur.co.uk.

“The Vista flop is completely predictable. There is a scale regime above which closed-source development is unsustainable as the ratio between productive work and complexity-management overhead rises. Microsoft was bound to reach it; the only question was when.”

Eric S. Raymond in Linux Journal, Jan. 2008.

OSS – How does it work?OSS – How does it work?

1.There will be some variation by project, but generally there are gatekeepers to prevent chaos - a few people that have absolute control over what proposed changes are included.

2.Each major subsection will have its own gatekeeper(s) – a hierarchy of gatekeepers.

3.Contributors find and report bugs, propose new functionality, and prepare patches or fixes, which are circulated on the mailing list of the project. Once all criticisms are satisfied and the patch has been tested, then it becomes a candidate for inclusion.

Organization of Linux Kernel Organization of Linux Kernel Development Development

Gatekeepers are Linus Torvalds and Andrew Morton. Under them there are “maintainers” for major sections such as networking, file systems, etc.

Networking (for example) has maintainers for each major type of networking. One of these handles wireless. Under him is a maintainer for each of the supported devices.

For the Broadcom wireless drivers, there are three drivers. One of these is obsolete and will be removed in 2.6.26, thus there are two maintainers. One handles the really old devices, the other has newer models. There are 50-100 people that are active in testing, etc.

Kernel Development CycleKernel Development Cycle

Once a new kernel is released, the introduction of new functionality is started. This process lasts for roughly two weeks. When it ends, new features can no longer be introduced. Only bug fixes are allowed.

At this point, kernel 2.6.x-rc1 (rc means release candidate) is released. Fixes are applied for 1-2 weeks, then -rc2 is released, etc.

Most kernel versions go up to -rc7 or -rc8. When Linus is satisfied, then the new version is released, and the process starts over.

Current development version is 2.6.25-rc3. The current stable version is 2.6.24.1.

OSS – Who Participates?OSS – Who Participates?Most Active Contributors to Linux 2.6.23 => 2.6.24 Kernel by Employer. Total of 790,000 (of ~9,000,000)

lines of code were changed.

(None)(Unknown)IntelRed HatIBMLinutronixNovellMovialFreescaleAnalog DevicesMIPS TechnologiesSWsoftLinux Foundation

18.0%15.5%14.7%

7.5%6.6%6.1%3.8%2.4%1.9%1.9%1.5%1.1%1.0%

What is Linux?What is Linux? Linux is an open-source operating system. The components

are the kernel (including device drivers), a windowing system and desktop, utilities, user programs, and installation and update methods.

The results of packaging of above components is a distribution, or distro for short.

Distros include openSUSE, Fedora, Ubuntu, Debian, Gentoo, Puppy Linux, and many more.

Some are designed only for “live” operation, others for disk installation, with a few that can do either.

Linux runs on many computer architectures including i386, x86_64, itanium, m68000, ppc, ppc64, alpha, arm, mips, sparc, sparc64, s390, and many others.

Symmetric multi-processing is well supported.

Linux AdvantagesLinux Advantages No cost unless you want support, or want to buy rather

than download the CD or DVD. Secure – good separation between system and users. Efficient – will run on I386 at 25 MHz with 64 MB RAM.

Good usage of multiple CPUs and full 64-bit support. Better support for old hardware. Many File Systems – pick best for your usage. System evolves more continuously than Windows. The

kernel is updated 3-4 times per year. Distros update once per year.

Stable applications interface. Single root for file system – no drive letters like C:, etc.

Linux DisadvantagesLinux Disadvantages On most computers, you have to buy

Windows anyway. Drivers for very new hardware may not be

available. Some hardware (winmodem, winprinter) only

works with Windows. Not all software available, particularly closed

source programs. Higher “geekiness” level, but improving. Major differences in system file layout

between distros. It can be hard to switch.

Truth in Advertising??Truth in Advertising??From Staples Ad in Yuma Sun on Feb. 24, 2008From Staples Ad in Yuma Sun on Feb. 24, 2008

Linux File System NamesLinux File System NamesOn my system, I have 3 data partitions. On Windows, these would be C:, D:, and E:. With Linux, one of these has the root of the file system and is mounted at “/”. Files for the super-user are on this partition at /root/... A second partition has the user files and is mounted at “/home”. The path for my files is /home/finger/... The third partition has the NTFS file system for Windows. The path for the “Documents and Settings” folder is “/windows/C/Documents and Settings”.

When I plug my thumb drive into a USB slot, the files automatically become available with a path of /media/disk/...

Do Not Login as Super-userDo Not Login as Super-user

a

My Linux KDE DesktopMy Linux KDE Desktop

openSUSE Chameleon = StartopenSUSE Chameleon = Start

a

Utility like “Control Panel”Utility like “Control Panel”

a

Must Enter Super-user PasswordMust Enter Super-user Password

a

NetworkManager AppletNetworkManager Applet

If You Need to Run Windows ProgramsIf You Need to Run Windows ProgramsUse a Virtual MachineUse a Virtual Machine

Advantages of Virtual MachineAdvantages of Virtual Machine

Host and Guest can be Linux or Windows No repartitioning of host disk. Easy to try different distros. Benefits of “live” demo, but ability to save

files. Dynamic disk storage. Simple hardware – no driver worries. No need to burn CD's – run from “iso” image.

Off-Topic: Vista SP1 ProblemsOff-Topic: Vista SP1 Problems

Programs that will not start or run, or lose functionality after Vista SP1 is installed

BitDefender AV or Internet Security Fujitsu Shock Center Jiangmin KV Antivirus Trend Micro Internet Security Zone Alarm Security Suite Iron Speed Designer Xheo Licensing Free Allegiance NYT Reader Rising Personal Firewall Novell ZCM Agent

ReferencesReferences

Download Locations:openSUSE – en.opensuse.orgFedora - fedoraproject.orgUbuntu - ubuntu.org (Ubuntu uses Gnome desktop,

Kubuntu uses KDE, and Xubuntu uses the Xfce desktop)

VirtualBox – virtualbox.org

Vista SP1 Problems

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx/kb/935796

Final SectionFinal Section

The rest of this presentation will be a live demonstration of openSUSE 10.3 on a virtual machine running under Windows. Using this method, it is possible to investigate Linux without messing with your Windows setup.