Linux in the news [LWN.net]

Born free (Economist)

The Economist looks at the growth of free software during the recession. "For years, this software commons was no more than an obscure sideshow. But then the internet provided volunteer programmers with a way to co-operate cheaply. IBM and Oracle, two industry giants, threw their weight behind the Linux operating system, in part to weaken their rival Microsoft. After the dotcom bubble burst in 2001, many firms turned to Linux and other open-source software to save money."

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Companies

IBM Entices Sun, HP Customers onto Linux Mainframes (eWeek)

eWeek looks at IBM's efforts to move customers to Linux mainframes. "With enterprises looking to consolidate their data center infrastructures, some are turning to the mainframe platform, particularly in combination with Linux, he said. According to IBM, almost 2,800 of the 5,000 unique applications available for the System z platform are Linux-based, and Linux accounted for about half of the 1,000 or so new and updated applications created for the IBM mainframe in 2008. In addition, more than 40 percent of new System z customers in 2008 installed Linux."

Comments (4 posted)

Microsoft installs Firefox extension without asking (The H)

The H has a report about a Firefox extension that was installed as part of a Windows Update without user approval. It is interesting that Microsoft is now writing Firefox extensions, but they may want to look at their policy of automatic installation without any (easy) way to uninstall it. "The 'Microsoft .NET Framework Assistant' add-on uses ClickOnce technology to allow users to install Windows applications by clicking a link in a web page. A number of people have raised concerns over the security of the technology, objected to the fact that the Service Pack installs the extension without asking and complained that once installed, the Uninstall button in the Firefox Add-on panel is greyed-out and the extension cannot easily be uninstalled (although it can be disabled)."

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Novell Linux revenue soars as global server revenue plummets (CNet)

CNet takes a look at Novell's second quarter results. "Novell reported $37 million in Linux Platform Products revenue, up 25 percent compared to the same period last year. While not on par with Red Hat's continued growth -- 18 percent last quarter on a higher revenue base, -- Novell's execution on its Linux Platform business, in particular, is impressive."

Comments (8 posted)

Linux Adoption

UN buys into Ncomputing's Linux thin-client PCs (The Inquirer)

The Inquirer reports on a United Nations project to get 1000 Linux-based thin clients into schools in developing countries. "Ncomputing will not only provide its One-Watt thin-client devices but will also provide logistical and operational support for deployment in primary and secondary schools through 2012. A pilot project has already been completed in Burkina Faso, with more projects scheduled for Rwanda, Senegal and Tanzania in 2009."

Comments (2 posted)

Resources

Introducing Three Python Web Frameworks (Linux Journal)

Paul Barry introduces Django, Pylons and TurboGears in a Linux Journal article. "What with all the hoopla surrounding Ruby on Rails, aspiring Web application programmers should be forgiven for assuming that Rails is the only way to go when building their next great Web app. But, Rails is not the only game in town, and Ruby is not the only language worth considering in this very active area. Perl has a large and growing collection of Web frameworks, including Maypole, Catalyst, Jifty and Gantry (to name a few). Even in the Ruby space, the list of technologies is growing to include Merb, Camping, Nitro/Og and Ramaze. And, let's not forget some of the projects from the world's favorite Web templating language, PHP: Zoop, Jelix, Cake and Biscuit."

Comments (27 posted)

Xorg's X Window innovation - it's not ALL about the graphics (FSM)

Free Software Magazine has a wide-ranging look at what's going on around graphics programming. "Right now, LLVM is being developed, and a front-end made, to become a hardware-agnostic shaders compiler that will be part of Gallium. Currently, it works as an advanced prototype, and experiments are being made to support fully programmable shaders on cards that only support fixed function shaders without resorting to pure software emulation: LLVM compiles shader fragments down to instructions that fixed function cards can render in an accelerated manner (its VERY experimental for now: it may be a dead end, so dont bet on your Geforce3 card rendering current games in any usable way tomorrow!)."

Comments (3 posted)

Reviews

Hands on: Google Chromium browser alpha for Linux (ars technica)

ars technica reviews an alpha release of the Google Chromium browser. "We took a look at the Mac OS X port of Chromium a few months ago, but the Linux port was still barely functional at the time. A lot of progress has been made since then and the Linux version is now in the alpha stage. We tested it on Ubuntu 9.04 to see how it compares with the latest release of Chrome for Windows. There are still missing features and lots of rendering bugs, but it is clearly moving in the right direction."

Comments (none posted)

Linux-ready networking SoCs scale to 40 cores (LinuxDevices)

LinuxDevices takes a look at the latest System on a Chip processors from Netronome. "Netronome announced new multi-core "network flow processors" that are backward-compatible with Intel's IXP28xx, but claimed to offer over twice the MIPS. The Linux-compatible NFP-32xx system-on-chips scale from 16 to 40 cores, offer 20Gbps throughput, and provide a programmable dataplane, virtualization, and security processing, says the company."

Comments (1 posted)

NILFS: A File System to Make SSDs Scream (Linux Mag)

Linux Magazine has a look at the Nilfs2 filesystem which is part of 2.6.30. "One of the most noticeable features of NILFS is that it can 'continuously and automatically save instantaneous states of the file system without interrupting service'. NILFS refers to these as checkpoints. In contrast, other file systems such as ZFS, can provide snapshots but they have to suspend operation to perform the snapshot operation. NILFS doesnt have to do this. The snapshots (checkpoints) are part of the file system design itself."

Comments (10 posted)

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