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: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:
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.