The Debian Core Consortium launches

The distribution consists of bug fixes and refinements to a more limited set of packages that are then released as an Ubuntu distribution.

Given this routine it is difficult to see Ubuntu matching the DCC core specifications. Moreover, beginning from a differing base set of code they would seem less useful in supporting commercial needs. Ubuntu role may well be to serve new, non-commercial users that wish to try Linux.

Perhaps the better approach to creating more <i>weight</i> to this coalition would be to entice Mandriva to reconsider its current base distribution. While I suspect Ubuntu may at the moment have more raw numbers and be more nearly associated with the Debian model, I think Mandriva has had some success in the government/commercial distribution model that could lend a bit more credibility to a DCC effort.

I assume, that the goals of DCC and Ubuntu are different. DCC is based on Debian stable (sarge, 3.1). Ubuntu is more or less based on unstable (sid). But it would be nice to see DCC and Ubuntu working together.

You not only stick to established file system standards but you use a identical basis for your system.

It's developed out of Progeny and they use it for developing specialized distros for customers (like if you want a media player or a NAS type setup).

You have the 'Debian Core', which is a carefully selected set of basic OS software out of Debian. This will be used as the basis for all DCC distros.

This will create the 'standard API' that commercial (not neccisarially closed source, but anything 'enterprise'.. like say the Lustre cluster filesystem) developers need so desperately for Linux.

No matter what variation of Debian-based distro.. be it a specialized Progeny version, or Linspire, or Xandros.. you know that that set of core functionality will aways be present and always be compatable with Debian Stable.

On top of that Debian core they would create componates.. Like for isntance if you need to integrate into a Microsoft Active Directory system you can install the 'Active Directory support componate' and get all the packages pre-configured and setup the user authentication to be used with a AD.

With componatized Linux, the goal is to setup a building-block system were distros will build up variations suited towards their specific task.

For instance Redhat/Suse/Mandrake are all originally based around the similar REdhat 5-6 era distro. Redhat made big changes in 7.0, and again in Fedora Core and RHEL. Then Mandrake went it's way, and Suse went it's way. Each modern rpm distro is using around the same library versions, similar versions of KDE, similar versions of Gnome. Similar kernel versions... Everything is very much the same, except trying to make a cross-compatable rpm file would be a nightmare.

That's because they never realy bothered to work together.

Between them there is a lot of 'reinventing the wheel'. They each maintain their own little island of compatable packages and there is a lot of repeat effort and potentionally time/money wasting. And in the end it makes their software more difficult for the end user to deal with and for third parties to support effectively.

Wouldn't it be nice if I wanted the new version of VLC media player I could simply get a .deb file and have it work flawlessly on Debian, credativ, KNOPPIX, LinEx, Linspire, MEPIS, Progeny, Sun Wah, UserLinux, and Xandros? (a little copy-n-paste there) It would "just work" and not cost VLC any more effort then is already used in the support of Debian.

Of course the Major downside is that Debian has been WAY TO SLOW TO RELEASE NEW STABLE VERSIONS.

Huge huge problem. For example UserLinux started off with interest, but it basicly had to put everything on hold just until Debian got it's act together and released Sarge.

This is the reason I figure that Ubuntu hasn't joined.

They don't want to wait 5 years until the next release for the core functionality of their system.

If Debian can get Etch out the door and keep the high quality in a dozen months instead of a half dozen years, then I wouldn't be suprised if more distros join up very quickly including Ubuntu.

That way Ubuntu could get the core system taken care of, for basicly no-effort, and concentrate all their efforts on making their version of the Gnome system as good as it possibly could be.

They could release two updated 'Ubuntu' components for every Debian release and everybody will be happy and Ubuntu users would be able to keep their state-of-the-art Gnome desktop and have it much better tested and polished.

(or state-of-the-art KDE desktop in the 'Kubuntu' component if your a KDE fan.) :)