Go-it-alone distros
Go-it-alone distros
Posted May 4, 2012 5:25 UTC (Fri) by pr1268 (guest, #24648)In reply to: Elephant in the room by epa
Parent article: The plumbing layer as the new kernel
As a Slackware user (and proud of it!), I don't quite see Slackware as "going-it-alone" to the extent our editor would suggest. Not as much as Gentoo, perhaps, but my recent experience perusing the init scripts on my Slackware system seem to suggest that Slackware "borrows" from Redhat/Fedora and Ubuntu, while still maintaining a SysVInit-style (old but reliable) startup system.
Also, I couldn't agree more with nhippi above about other distros "consuming" from Redhat. As much as I don't care for RH (or Fedora) as distros, I do acknowledge that their work pretty much drives the direction desktop and server Linux is taking1. Accordingly, I have to assume a certain responsibility for keeping current with trends in desktop/server Linux (even if Slackware is old-school). ;-)
There are several big names in Linux distros these days, and they're all trying hard to push their agenda. This is not a bad thing. Whether or not you agree with Lennart's thoughts on Ubuntu, one thing is certain: having a certain diversity of ideas, designs, and implementations in the Linux ecosystem is good for us "consumers".
To answer your question, though, I don't see Android doing much in any of the three areas you mention. In fact, I'd say your question borders on rhetorical3. If that's the case, then I see your point: Android is a big "consumer" of Linux (the kernel), but the specialized HW environment Android is supposed to run on precludes it from needing a startup system like Systemd, and I don't see udev being needed on a mobile device (how often does a HW configuration change on a mobile device?)2. Android uses its own LibC (either for specialization and eliminating code bloat, or for licensing reasons, or both), so I really don't see the Android developers doing much in the GLibC arena.
1 This is not to say that Debian, Ubuntu, Gentoo, Novell/SUSE, CentOS, Mint, etc. are not driving Linux's direction; the more commercial distros certainly have their desktop/server Linux interests to protect, and even the non-commercial ones have a distinct culture and philosophy.
2 I claim ignorance here. As a BlackBerry Owner (waiting out my contract before switching to an Android device), the only thing I'm plugging into my smartphone is the USB charging cable (either from the wall outlet or to my desktop computer to transfer files). Any other changes (SIM card, Micro-SD card, etc.) requires that the battery be removed.
3 I don't mean that in an unkind way; in fact, the more I pondered your question, the more mildly insulting it seemed (towards Android, that is). Janet Jackson's song "What Have You Done For Me Lately" comes to mind. ;-)