"At a recent Australian Linux conference, Sam Varghese reported that two Debian developers pointed out that the Debian Project needs more corporate support for 'men, money and machines' to advance the operating system. They're right. It does. They also pointed out that many companies, such as HP, IBM, Silicon Graphics and Google, either use Debian Linux internally, or actually incorporate it into products. For example, HP uses Debian 'Etch' 4.0 in its new t5735 thin-client device. Right again. Debian, either directly or through related Linux distributions such as Xandros, is used both by Linux enthusiasts and Fortune 500 companies. Of course, you couldn't prove that by the vast majority of Debian developers who never see a thin dime from their Debian work. Or, I should add, get access to new hardware, travel expenses to Debian developer conferences and so on."
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Member since:2005-07-08
Hmm... I didn't find the article so very negative. It also depends on how you want to see it: as plain criticism only, or as a potential starting point for constructive discussion in order to maybe find some new ideas and vision. I took the article in the latter way.
In my opinion the Debian project would be worth more financial, hardware etc. support. But do some Debian people even want that?
As a bazaar like organization Debian seems too heterogenous to accept any bigger changes in its old habits. If somebody finds a new model, for financial support, for example, usually there are plenty of others who oppose it. The Anthony Towns example points that clearly.
Free open discussion is very important, of course, but in Debian it often seems to result in conservatism and certain lack of bigger vision. Things just continue the old way like people are used to doing them.
Debian democracy is alright and even a very good model when that sort of democracy works - but nobody can deny that sometimes Debian has been having quite big problems too. (as a small example, where is the Debian Weekly News nowadays? "doesn't appear to have been published since July 3, 2007") Debian is one of my all time favorite distros, and I just hope that some of the bigger problems it has had could be avoided, what ever the right way might be?
Member since:
2007-02-26
I've nothing against Vaughan-Nichols, but I agree that this article was unnecessarily negative.
One key line I took away from it:
"...does keep going" is what matters. They may be a victim of their unique culture in some aspects, but they continue to be successful as a result of it.