"Linspire announced plans to standardize software installation across Linux distributions by expanding its popular CNR digital download and software management service to support several of the most popular desktop Linux distributions in 2007. Previously available only for Linspire and Freespire desktop Linux users, the CNR Service will begin providing users of other desktop Linux distributions a free and easy way to access over 20000 desktop Linux products, packages and libraries."
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Member since:2005-07-08
This is not the Linux Foundation's purpose. There currently isn't any "governing" body with a mandate to centralize package management across Linux distribution. At best there's the OSDL, which is a technical body with no service mission.
But if one were to exist, they would object to the use of a proprietary packaging technology for such a purpose. By definition, proprietary solutions are suitable for some--but not all--of the OSS community. Further, we cannot accept a situation where a commercial entity controls the central software distribution service using proprietary software (not forkable by the community). What works in our best interests today may not tomorrow, so it is necessary for us to control our own destiny.
Note that the CNR client plugin is OSS, but the server is not.
It bothers me that the new-school Linux corporations do such nice things using free software within their own distribution projects, yet they insist on reaching out of the community at-large with proprietary software. The otherwise OSS-friendly Canonical attempts to unite issue tracking using the proprietary Launchpad, and Linspire wants us to use their proprietary CNR to unite package management. If you want to lock-in your corporate clients or your paid subscribers, go ahead. But don't handcuff the community with your proprietary development and distribution tools.
Edited 2007-01-23 20:13
Member since:2006-11-24
Honest question: exactly how can they be handcuffed?
I mean, they can become dependent upon it, sure. But that doesn't mean that the other distros will be debilitated from forming their own free alternatives, does it?
Of course, that latter part depends upon if those other distros can make their alternatives just as viable as the currently-popular proprietary solutions. Or if those other distros (Debian) are more likely to do without such solutions (free or non-free), as they've done for the majority of their histories.
If CNR's server is or proves to be a handcuff - legal or pragmatic - to those other distros, then the distros (SuSE, Fedora, Ubuntu) and their maintainers should be blamed - slammed, in fact - for willfully putting those fetters on their own wrists, not Linspire.
Edited 2007-01-23 21:11
Member since:2007-01-22
if there was a standard unified linux platform, there would be no need and no room for these closed source gimmicks.
The Linux foundation will just be a collection of competing groups that will never really change the situation and do what needs to be done to make linux competitive against Windows.
they have to think: what will it take to get more developers to come to the platform?
Member since:
2006-02-20
If they want a standard distro, which isn't going to happen, the next best thing is to have those distros use your repository. The Linux Foundation should provide a standard repository, that way, it won't matter what distro is used, so long as it uses the repository for updating and installing new software. Kinda like Debian and it's forks.