Linux Non-compete Agreements?

An open source Solaris allows programmers/vendors to produce software products (both open-source and not) that run on Sun systems and use Sun OS services. This can help keep Sun and Solaris relevant moving forward.

> What's wrong with Sun trying to
> build a Linux clone with OpenSolaris?

Not everyone says it's wrong, but their ability to get this working is put to doubt. They can't attract as many developers and they cannot monetise this as well as they do (_did_) with Solaris. Even their own community questions the move. See:

OpenSolaris users group to Ian Murdock, Sun: You’re missing the point

,----[ Quote ]
| Coincidence or not, Ratcliffe (voluntarily) left Sun shortly after he spoke
| with SearchEnterpriseLinux.com for the article. Ian Murdock joined the ranks
| soon after in a newly created — albeit slightly mysterious — role.
`----

http://enterpriselinuxlog.blogs.techtarget.com/2007/07/18/opensolaris-users-group-to-ian-murdock-sun-youre-missing-the-point/

OpenSolaris fans in a tizzy over 'Project Copy Linux'

,----[ Quote ]
| Sun Microsystems has moved one mailing list posting closer to explaining
| how it plans to mimic the Linux distribution model with OpenSolaris.
|
| [...]
|
| The Solaris vendor spent the early part of this century mocking Linux.
| Next, it forced then CEO Scott McNealy to don a penguin suit and waddle
| around in front of analysts, extolling the virtues of Sun's own flavor
| of Linux. Then, Sun scrapped its own Linux in favor of selling Red Hat,
| while also mocking Red Hat.
|
| Now we find Sun trying to imitate part of the development model pushed
| by Canonical and Red Hat. Even though Sun likes to hold tight control
| over the Solaris proper releases, you can imagine the vendor picking
| up valuable bits and pieces created by the OpenSolaris developer
| community, just like the Linux vendors do with the work produced by
| their developer armies.
`----

http://www.theregister.co.uk/2007/05/31/sun_project_indiana/

Also remember that Sun hasn't a history of being all that nice to Linux. The FUD has not ended yet, so don't go slamming Linux users for being intolerant. See this recent one:

"Save a Penguin, Unplug a Linux Server" May Win Most-Flamable E-Mail Award

,----[ Quote ]
| I just got an e-mail from Sun which is probably the largest violation
| of L. Ron Hubbard's Survey tech that I've ever seen. It was an e-mail
| with the title of, "Save a Penguin - Unplug a Linux Server Today".
`----

http://jetteroheller.wordpress.com/2007/05/03/save-a-penguin-unplug-a-linux-server-may-win-most-flamable-e-mail-award/

@Reed, that seems to be Sun's strategy. How successful it is remains to be seen. About the only difference between today and before openSolaris is the ability to get Solaris for free. Sure, the "source is available", but how many programmers/vendors are taking advantage of it?

@Roy, I can't say I disagree with you at all :-) Like I said, if this is what Sun wants to do, then hey, have at it...just remember that the Linux ecosystem won't stand by and let openSolaris take Linux share. Developers know the deal and will act accordingly.

The thing to keep an eye on the most, in my opinion, is the new installation and packaging project:

http://blogs.sun.com/eric_boutilier/entry/this_is_huge

--Eric B

What is the kernel being used for this project? If it isn't code based on Linus's work, then this should not be referred to as a "Linux clone".

There have been competing _UNIX_ distributions for years - ATT vs BSD vs Minix vs Linux vs MacOS X vs ...

OpenSolaris is, as far as I am aware, code that has as its inheritence both ATT and BSD influences. If anything, Linux is an attempt to "clone" (or reverse engineer, then better) the work that Sun, ATT, and Berkeley have done for the past 30+ years.

To condemn the people that made this whole market possible as somehow being derivative seems, at best, to be shortsighted and at worst petty.

If Sun is enticing Linux users to use OpenSolaris, then Linux developers should pick up the challenge, figure out what Sun has that is so appealing, and then either make use of that _open source code_ or find a way to provide something better.

Quit wasting time crying over the market each other has and get busy writing code that someone wants!

Savio, I think the issue is not whether than can/should compete. Sun's actions signal they would like to think OpenSolaris competes with Linux, but it's arguable whether Linux users even care. The question is not about competition, it's about community contribution to a technology that matters. All the investment Sun makes in OpenSolaris only helps Sun - no one else. OpenSolaris "contributions" are miniscule at best and have made no changes to how Solaris is developed or who is developing it - everything going into Solaris comes from Sun.

OpenSolaris is so far from Linux in its development process it's laughable to put them in the same sentence. Instead of "competition", think about what could happen if Sun worked proactively and in a contributory manner to help fight "Bug #1"? (See Ubuntu bug database...). If Sun's so relevant and its technologies are so great, why waste time fighting a community that consists of HP, IBM, Dell, Oracle, SAP, Cisco, Google, BEA, and thousands of others? Why not join in that community and provide your value-add? In my opinion, competing for OS lock-in is "so 90's" (as my youngest sister would say)...