Reconsidering Linux (News.com)

Reconsidering Linux (News.com)

Posted Jul 30, 2003 18:02 UTC (Wed) by haraldt (guest, #961)
In reply to: Reconsidering Linux (News.com) by iabervon
Parent article: Reconsidering Linux (News.com)

It should be important to keep a perspective here. And a note about the author and where he comes from.

The article does not diss the need of stabilized, customized distributions. To quote:
"Sure, Linux distributions--integrated collections of software combined with the Linux kernel to form complete operating systems--have been the primary drivers of the commercialization of Linux over the past several years. And the distributions do play a vital role in the Linux ecosystem. They collect "best of class" open-source technologies and integrate them into complete offerings. This allows Linux to be distributed to end users as an integrated solution as opposed to just a collection of disparate technologies."

But our author is also the "Ian" of "Debian", the founder of that general-purpose GNU/Linux distribution. By Debian, you're not required to compile your own binaries to have a wealth of choices. Rather, one of Debians strengths is not to make more choices than you need.
That's not much help for a beginner, but a savior for those who'd otherwise compile their own.

Debian is a platform for custom installations, for those who need to customize some and keep the rest at minimum hassle. Soft lock-in, by your own choices. Not because someone told you "this is what you bought".
There are custom selections and customized Debian-based distributions. All you need to do something different is to open up the archives and make your choices.

And from that perspective, I still can't see the wrong of it.

Lastly, you noted:
"You're stuck with that particular vendor until someone else puts together the support you need (or you do it yourself), but that's not the fault of your vendor."
That's highly dependant on who you ask and the requirements they have. Agree there's hardly a base to drag the vendor to court. But for someone who don't like it that way, that is a fault. Should the customers be blamed?

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