Linked by Thom Holwerda on Wed 12th Sep 2007 11:51 UTC
QNX has announced that they are going to open up the source code to their QNX microkernel operating system. The press release reads: "Effective immediately, QNX will make source code for its award-winning, microkernel-based OS available for free download. The first source release includes the code to the QNX Neutrino microkernel, the base C library, and a variety of board support packages for popular embedded and computing hardware." Read on for more information, as well as an interview with Dan Dodge, CEO of QNX.
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Member since:2005-06-29
Well, the anouncement seems to be targeted more at OS enthusiasts rather that businesses, even though QSSL is all about business.
Anyway, you can't call that "nothing" because it gives people a great code example to study and educate themselves. And if you're running a business you shouldn't expect to get things for free.
Member since:2005-07-06
You can't call this free software
No it isn't.
you can't even call this open source
Yes it is. Everyone can read the source at will, it is "open" to the public.
You need to clearly differentiate between the two. That is why there are OSI open source licenses which are not considered to be free software by everyone.
Anyway QNX has made a decision which makes sense for their business. Giving away their flagship product would probably ruin them (unlike Sun which doesn't depend on Solaris to bring in the megabucks.) Instead they have opted to just open their source so their clients can write better software because they are aware of how things work internally. Sounds like a good idea to me.
Member since:2006-02-15
Member since:2006-09-27
"Again, nothing really happened. If you download source of this "open source" kernel, and browse it - please read the headers. "
Would you please paste the license in a pastebin and provide a link? That would be very helpful.
http://rafb.net/paste/
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Member since:
2006-01-06
Again, nothing really happened. If you download source of this "open source" kernel, and browse it - please read the headers.
You can't call this free software, you can't even call this open source.
It seems like they wanted to make bug fuss about that, it's free commercial for them - I understand that - but it is nowhere close to revolution - until it's free for commercial use and redistribution - nothing changes.