MandrakeSoft's product-lifetime & Open Source policies [LWN.net]

From:		MandrakeSoft PR <press-AT-mandrakesoft.com>
To:		lwn-AT-lwn.net
Subject:		MandrakeSoft's product-lifetime & Open Source policies: 8 Golden Rules
Date:		Fri, 19 Dec 2003 18:22:34 +0100 (CET)


Altadena, CA; Paris, France; December, 15th 2003 -- Mandrakesoft, a
leading producer of Linux desktop and server solutions, today
summarized its product-life policy and Open Source commitment.

At a time when some of the established Linux companies are turning
away from their Open Source roots and progressively abandoning
full-time commitment to Open Source Software, many people have asked
MandrakeSoft to clarify its position regarding product-lifetimes and
its Open Source development model.

"There will be no change in MandrakeSoft's official product support
cycle, and the company remains firmly committed to the Open Source
Software model", said François Bancilhon, CEO of MandrakeSoft.

To make the company's position clear, MandrakeSoft has released '8
Golden Rules' which guide the company and illustrate its approach to
Product Support & Open Source:



	* * * MandrakeSoft's 8 Golden Rules * * *



1) Software updates for all Mandrake products

Official MandrakeSoft software updates -- including bug fixes and
security updates -- will remain freely available for all public
supported products, according to the official product lifetime table.

2) Product lifetimes are not hidden

A product lifetime table for all major MandrakeSoft products is
publicly available on the Mandrake Linux website. For example, the
Mandrake Linux 9.2 Download, Discovery, PowerPack and ProSuite
editions will be supported with core updates until March 30, 2005.

3) Product lifetimes do not change during a product's lifetime

The support lifetimes are respected, and may sometimes even be extended.

4) Free as in 'Libre' and Free as in 'Beer'!

A download version of Mandrake Linux, consisting entirely of Open
Source software, will continue to be released, provided without cost,
and supported.

5) MandrakeSoft's code conforms to the GPL

ALL applications created by MandrakeSoft, such as the Mandrake Linux
installer and Linux configuration utilities, are released under the
General Public License. Our firm commitment to the GPL is the
appropriate way to "give back" to the Free Software community.

6) Mandrake Linux -- A true Open Source project

The development of Mandrake Linux is conducted entirely in accordance
to the Open Source spirit. Development of Mandrake Linux products are
based on "Cooker", which is a publicly available development platform
and community. Cooker provides complete access to:

a) Source code -- through a CVS repository
b) Direct communication with developers -- through numerous mailing-lists
c) And a 'Wiki' collaborative website

7) The choice of free support...

All Mandrake Linux users have free access to the community-supported
MandrakeExpert.com support platform.

8) MandrakeSoft listens to you...

MandrakeSoft encourages and welcomes feedback and suggestions from its
base of users, thereby releasing products that better match the users'
needs.

Additional information is located at:

http://www.mandrakelinux.com - the home of the Mandrake Linux project.
http://www.mandrakelinux.com/en/cookerdevel.php3 - the home of the
"Cooker" community.
http://qa.mandrakesoft.com/wiki - Mandrake Linux's Wiki for Cooker.
http://www.mandrakesoft.com/products - MandrakeSoft products.
http://www.mandrakesecure.net/en/productlifetime.php - Official
MandrakeSoft product lifetime table.


Press contact:
Gaël Duval (press at mandrakesoft.com)

About MandrakeSoft

MandrakeSoft is the publisher of the popular Mandrake Linux operating
system, one of the most full-featured and easy to use Linux systems
available. The company offers its enterprise, government and
educational customers a complete range of GNU/Linux and Open Source
software and related services. MandrakeSoft products are available in
more than 120 countries through dedicated channels and also from
MandrakeStore.com, the company's online store. Number 1 in several
countries, MandrakeSoft has been awarded many times for quality and
the technical innovation of its products. "Born on the Internet" in
late 1998, MandrakeSoft has established headquarters in the U.S.A. and
in France. MandrakeSoft is traded on Paris Euronext Marche Libre
(Euroclear code: 4477.PA; Reuters code: MAKE.PA) and the US OTC market
(stock symbol MDKFF).

to post comments

Thank you Mandrake

Posted Dec 20, 2003 0:07 UTC (Sat) by alspnost (guest, #2763) [Link]

Well there you have it - clear and unequivocal. A big pat on the back to Mandrake, firstly for its strong commitment to the principles of free software, and secondly for being open and honest about its policies.

Thanks also to Mandrake for the obvious thing: producing a great distribution for everyone. All they need to do is tighten up the QA a little, and they will deservedly remain close to the top of the pile. Perhaps the highest compliment of all is that Mandrake 9.2 is parent-proof: I installed it on a new PC for my parents (I paid for the DVD edition), as their only OS, and they're still happy and productive 3 weeks in.

Mandrake deserves our support, and I was happy to give it. You see, the strange thing about free software economics is that the more a company wants to offer you great products for free, the more you want to support them with money. There's a lesson in there somewhere ;-)

MandrakeSoft's product-lifetime & Open Source policies

Posted Dec 21, 2003 0:23 UTC (Sun) by eyal (subscriber, #949) [Link]

That's why I choose to pay them.