OSnews - Exploring the Future of Computing

OSDL Says No to Microsoft

Thom Holwerda 2005-08-29 Open Source 83 Comments

A week ago the news got out that Microsoft had approached OSDL for a comperative study between Linux and Windows. OSDL confirmed this, however, they did not provide an answer to Microsoft's request. On Friday, Joe Brockmeier had a chance to have a short talk with Cohen , and got a definitive answer. Cohen said that "there is no way we would do a joint research project with Microsoft."

How Linux Could Overthrow Microsoft

Thom Holwerda 2005-08-29 Linux 75 Comments

For as long as most technologists can remember, there has been Wintel, the $250 billion industry dominated by Microsoft's Windows operating systems and Intel's microprocessors. But Lintel, or the Linux operating system and Intel, is now encroaching on this empire, and behind it is the entire open-source software movement, which threatens to overthrow the Windows industry.

Partition Logic 0.57 Released

Submitted by Andy McLaughlin 2005-08-29 OS News 11 Comments

Partition Logic is a graphical, easy-to-use partitioning and hard disk management tool for PCs, based on the alternative Visopsys OS. It can create, delete, reorder and move partitions, and modify their attributes, as well as doing things like copying entire hard disks. It boots from a single floppy or CD image. Version 0.57 (freshmeat announcement) has a number of tweaks and some important bug fixes. A change log is here, and downloads are here.

Why REXX Scripting Is Faster

Submitted by anonymous 2005-08-29 General Development 12 Comments

If you learn Rexx, you'll know a scripting language that runs everywhere from mainframes to handhelds - and everything in between. This article shows you why the Rexx scripting language is faster than developing code in traditional languages like C++, Java, or COBOL. If you want to learn a quick way to develop database scripts, start here.

Petition To Bring Crossover Office to BSD

Andrew Youll 2005-08-29 BSD & Darwin 30 Comments

A petition has been started to present to Codeweavers to show that BSD is a viable platform for which to release Crossover Office. Update: For those who aren't keen on posting their email address this note posted by the petition organiser will hopefully put your minds at ease.

Microsoft’s Leaner Approach to Vista Security

Thom Holwerda 2005-08-29 Windows 22 Comments

Secure Startup is primarily designed to prevent laptop thieves and other unauthorized users with physical access to a computer from getting access to the data on the system. Secure Startup uses a chip called the Trusted Platform Module, or TPM, which offers protected storage of encryption keys, passwords and digital certificates. Vista uses this capability to verify that a PC has not been tampered with when it starts up and to protect data through encryption.

Interview: MEPIS Founder Warren Woodford

Submitted by D Seymour 2005-08-29 Linux 14 Comments

"In this interview, Warren explains the secret to his distro's rapid and widespread proliferation. Give desktop customers what they want: a simple, reliable set of applications that are easy to acquire, install, and use. Give it away for free. Always."

Review: QEMU 0.7.1

Submitted by Flavio Villanustre 2005-08-29 OS News 15 Comments

Here is a review of QEMU, a "generic and open source processor emulator which achieves a good emulation speed by using dynamic translation": "In sum, if you have emulation or virtualization needs, before you think of any commercial products, give QEMU a try. While it may not be as feature rich as some commercial alternatives, it’s stable, fast and free. And the convenience of having the source code available is a real plus."

Ubuntu Founder Discusses Linux

Submitted by Nate Behlendorff 2005-08-29 Ubuntu 76 Comments

In this short interview, Ubuntu Linux founder and space tourist Mark Shuttleworth discusses the intended users of Ubuntu, why he chose to base it on Debian, and what the future holds for Linux on the desktop. Ubuntu is growing rapidly - and Shuttleworth is the man at the controls.

Submitted by Rahul 2005-08-29 Linux 21 Comments

Linus has released 2.6.13 after a longer testing period and committed to improving the release cycle by merging in the major changes within the first two weeks for 2.6.14 and above as discussed before in kernel summit recently.

Crafting Java Code With Test-Driven Development

Submitted by Eugenia 2005-08-29 General Development No Comments

This article will teach you how to define and test for parameters within the Java environment by creating a simple system for for tracking course enrollment.

Syllable 0.5.7 Released

Thom Holwerda 2005-08-28 Syllable, AtheOS 21 Comments

Syllable 0.5.7 has been released. You can read the changelog here, and the download locations are here. "The biggest change in this release: everything has been recompiled against the new libc, and we have broken binary compatability through the removal of all the old libgui/libatheos/libsyllable versions. There are also some new drivers, new GUI classes, new bug fixes, and no doubt, new bugs."

Who Is the Unix Leader Today?

Submitted by ajam 2005-08-28 Unix 80 Comments

This seems to be a sensitive question for some people, particularly at Sun Microsystems. While IBM stated this week they had increased their market share over last year's, Sun also had its own press release this week claiming that it is the number one Unix platform server vendor in the world, in both revenue and unit shipments. It turns out they are both right.

Linux Kernel Update Improves Event Monitoring

Submitted by ajam 2005-08-28 Linux 66 Comments

The next stable update of the Linux kernel will bring advances in file system event monitoring, the Xtensa architecture, and a set of system calls that allows users to load another kernel from the currently executing Linux kernel. While the 2.6.13 –rc are currently being tested, the stable version is expected to be released in the next few weeks.

Finding Unresolved Plug-in Dependencies in Eclipse

Thom Holwerda 2005-08-28 General Development 7 Comments

Trying to locate an unresolved plug-in dependency can be strenuous and time-consuming. Almost every plug-in depends on a bunch of other plug-ins, and those plug-ins, in turn, may depend on many more. This article shows you how to resolve plug-in dependencies more quickly by automating their discovery.

Submitted by skx2 2005-08-28 Internet 3 Comments

The Debian administration website has a nice introduction to using CFEngine for managing a whole LAN in three parts. The first part introduces the engine, the second part explains what you can do using CFEngine, and the final part describes how to setup a client-server setup to allow a whole LAN to be managed centrally.

Stallman: “Linux’ Trademark Doesn’t Matter”

Thom Holwerda 2005-08-27 Open Source 176 Comments

Richard Stallman, chair of the Free Software Foundation, said on Thursday that the Linux trademark fracas in Australia has distracted attention away from the real issue - that of freedom to distribute and change software.

First Debian/kFreeBSD Live-CD Appears

Submitted by Robert Millan 2005-08-27 Debian 61 Comments

The first Live-CD based on Debian GNU/kFreeBSD has appeared. Its name is Ging (for Ging Is Not Ging) and it includes a GNOME 2.10 desktop, Abiword, and a complete toolchain with gcc 4.0.

MorphOS Now Supports 3D and More, More News.

Submitted by Raffaele 2005-08-27 Morphos 28 Comments

After two years of active development, we are proud to announce the immediate availability of the free MorphOS 3D Update pack. This pack brings Warp3D and OpenGL(R) API compatibility to a whole new range of hardware including 3dfx Voodoo and ATI Radeon.

Fox in Microsoft’s Tool-Suite Coop

Submitted by ajam 2005-08-27 Windows 71 Comments

Microsoft's Professional Developers Conference is expected to be a coming out party of sorts for the next version of Visual Studio, code-named Orcas. Primary among the new features in and new direction for Orcas will be advances in how the toolset handles data, sources said. Data becomes "cool" in Orcas, said a source familiar with Microsoft's strategy for Orcas.