Canonical Ltd., the sponsor of Ubuntu, and Linspire Inc. the developer of Linspire and Freespire, on February 8 announced a technology partnership to integrate with each other's Linux distributions. Linspire/Freespire will be based on Ubuntu, rather than Debian, and Ubuntu will integrate with Linspire's CNR package installer/updater.
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Member since:2005-07-08
Years, actually. I can't think of any other instance where people were basing a distro on another distro that is currently based on a still-being-developed distro. Simply Mepis did the same thing.
Debian > Ubuntu > other distro
This has never happened that I can think of. Sure, there have been forks, but that's a lot different than being twice removed from the source.
Member since:2006-01-03
Well, maybe it's easier to do now, because the infrastructure has evolved. And each level adds value that's not present (or is less present) in the lower level.
FLOSS community: Thousands of free programs of various qualities for you to download and compile (together with their dependencies).
Debian: Humongous repository of free software with dependencies and compilation solved, and with great infrastructure for automated updates. Restrictions on non-Debian-philosophy packages (either non-free or disliked licenses). Lacking user-level polish (installation, desktop cutification, administration tool integration).
Ubuntu = Debian - philosopy quarrels + predictable, fast cycle + desktop cutification + admin tool integration + opt-in proprietary drivers.
Linspire = Ubuntu + Windowized KDE + built-in proprietary drivers, codecs and fonts + CNR access commercial software + preinstallation in cheap PC's
You can't help to notice that the added value decreases every step up, but it is there, nonetheless. I could add yet another level by creating my "Inspiral" company and doing Linspire deployments, custom software and support for my customers.
Member since:2006-01-16
Member since:
2006-06-21
basing a distro on a distro that is based on another distro seems absurd to me.
Seriously, it's all part of how Linux distro's evolve. It's natural evolution, like with all free software. It casually morphs into more and more interesting forms, as long as there are people willing to work on them.
You must have not been around Linux for very long, then.