GPL Solaris benefits Sun [LWN.net]

GPL Solaris benefits Sun

Posted Nov 18, 2004 10:23 UTC (Thu) by erwbgy (subscriber, #4104)
Parent article: Solaris 10

>If the Solaris 10 license is GPL-compatible, many of Solaris 10's
>interesting features will no doubt find their way into Linux. It seems
>unlikely that Sun would choose that path. On the other hand, if Sun
>chooses a less friendly open source license, it will have a tough time
>creating a community that will drive Solaris development or adoption in
>the same way that the GPL has driven Linux. Either way, Sun seems set to
>lose with its open source ploy.

Look at it the other way. If Sun release Solaris under the GPL then
many of the interesting features in Linux will find their way into
Solaris. This will make Solaris more attractive compared to Linux and
will give their huge existing user base little reason to switch to RedHat
or SUSE etc. A GPL Solaris will help Sun remain competitive with the
up-and-coming Linux vendors.

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GPL Solaris benefits Sun

Posted Nov 18, 2004 15:06 UTC (Thu) by cajal (subscriber, #4167) [Link]

"If Sun release Solaris under the GPL then many of the interesting features in Linux will find their
way into Solaris."

GPL Solaris benefits Sun

Posted Nov 18, 2004 18:29 UTC (Thu) by jonabbey (subscriber, #2736) [Link]

What features would those be? Solaris already does anything Linux can do. The only real benefit would be porting drivers for x86 hardware from Linux to Solaris, but Sun could already port drives from *BSD if they wanted. No small benefit, that. Linux is far and away better at x86 hardware support than anything but Windows.

GPL Solaris benefits Sun

Posted Nov 19, 2004 19:22 UTC (Fri) by erwbgy (subscriber, #4104) [Link]

Indeed. Sun's Java Desktop runs on Linux for a reason.

GPL Solaris benefits Sun

Posted Nov 19, 2004 0:53 UTC (Fri) by foo (guest, #1117) [Link]

Linux can run on dozens of platforms, while Solaris
only runs on two or three. This matters a lot here
in embedded-land.