[ The opinions expressed by authors on Linux Today are their
own. They speak only for themselves and not for Linux Today.
]
Contributed by Linux Today reader Bruce Byfield
For months, the offices of Stormix Technologies looked empty.
High on the twentieth floor of Harbour Centre in Vancouver, Canada,
overlooking Burrard Inlet, the offices had once belonged to
NetNation Communications. But that company was now six floors
below. “NetNation has moved,” workers from the same floor kept
telling the people dropping by, but they were getting tired of
repeating themselves.
Finally, in July 1999, a new sign revealed what was going on.
Behind the closed door, in a corner of the old NetNation offices,
three programmers were working over-time to take the Linux world by
storm.
Those programmers were Kevin Lindsay, Atsushi Ikeda, and Garth
Wood. The project was Storm Linux, a new distribution dedicated to
networking and to bringing Linux to everyone.
Storm Linux was founded by the same founders of NetNation
Communications Inc., a world leader in web hosting and e-commerce
solutions provider.
“Originally, we chose Linux because we could set up a server for
a fraction of the cost of a UNIX server,” Joseph Kibur, NetNation’s
COO explains. “Later, we came to depend on Linux’s stability and
robustness. At the time, we were running Slackware.”
In late 1998, David Talmor, NetNation’s CEO, started talking
about how to tap Linux’s unrealized potential. “I wanted to do
something unique,” Talmor says, “Something that was useful to the
Linux community.”
Kevin Lindsay, a NetNation system administrator, suggested
releasing a new distribution. Over a period of several weeks, the
w”akness of the existing distributions were analyzed.
Gradually, the goals emerged: the new distribution would add
GUIs and using pre-configured defaults that would take the pain out
of Linux installation, use, and administration. A special effort
would be placed on networking solutions. Finally, the distribution
would be based on Debian because it was the most stable of the
existing distributions.
In December 1998, Kevin Lindsay became team leader. Atsushi
Ikeda and Garth Wood were hired soon after. Both Lindsay and Wood
were involved with Debian development, and Ikeda was an experienced
C programmer who had privately explored the use of Linux in web
development.
Stormix Technologies was incorporated in February 1998. The name
of its flagship product is Storm Linux. The initial investors
included Joseph Kibur and David Talmor.
“In the past, Linux has been an expert’s operating system,”
David Talmor says. “Stormix Technologies’ first goal is to bring
Linux to the task-oriented users. These users aren’t programmers,
although they can configure and maintain a system if given the
right tools. But, for these users, an operating system isn’t an end
in itself. It’s a tool to a practical end, like designing a graphic
or running a network. If we can show these users that Storm Linux
can help them in their daily work, then Linux will reach a new
level of acceptance.”
At the same time, Stormix Technologies doesn’t plan to abandon
old Linux hands. “We think that our distribution will appeal to
experienced users, too,” Kevin Lindsay says. “And we definitely
wouldn’t want to lose the value of their input.
“Besides, most of us are experienced Linux users ourselves. And
we all believe strongly in the importance of the Linux community.
That’s why we’ve released Storm Linux and its tools under the GNU
Public License. We wanted to give something back.
“At the same time, just because you can lift five hundred pounds
doesn’t mean you want to strain yourself by doing it five times a
day. We think that Storm Linux will make daily computing easier for
the experts, too.
“Anyway, if experienced Linux users don’t want to use our
features, there’s still the console and a complete Debian
distribution underneath Storm Linux.”
Stormix Technologies’ immediate goals are a graphical install
and a series of administration tools that allow the quick,
simultaneous creation of text and graphical interfaces, as well as
remote administration.
Another priority is quality documentation. “That’s always been a
weak point in Linux”, Kevin Lindsay observes, “even in recent
releases.”
In its next releases, Stormix Technologies will continue
perfecting its tools. More interfaces are planned for major
functions. The Simple Programming Language (SIL) behind the Storm
Administration System will be enhanced.
In the long run, there’s the possibility of gearing up for the
newbies. Tutorials? On-line help systems? Wizards? “The
possibilities are endless,” Kevin Lindsay says, “but our future
directions depend on user feedback. All we know for sure is that we
want to keep our distribution as close to Debian as we can.”
And if Debian chooses to include Storm Linux’s tools in its
distribution? “That would be great,” Lindsay says.
Meanwhile, Stormix still faces the rigors of beta release. Bugs
are being tracked and fixed, hardware support is being extended,
and Stormix is starting to reveal itself to the world. In recent
weeks, new programmers have joined Stormix (Randall Donald and Dean
Wadsworth), as well as a technical writer (Bruce Byfield) and a
webmaster (Kevin Teague).
A business manager is due to start shortly, too. “And about
time,” Lindsay adds with a grin. “Some days, we hardly have time to
code because we’re so busy talking to people about distribution
deals and preloads. And we’ve barely been able to think about
packaging deals, localizations into Japanese or German or French,
or talking to new investors.”
Storm Linux 1.0 is not due until the end of 1999. Early
feedback, however, is overwhelmingly positive from those who have
tried Storm Linux.
According to one tester, Storm Linux “seems poised to take the
user-friendliest title away from Caldera and Mandrake. Stormix will
be the desktop Linux.” A system administrator writes, “I predict
that Stormix will be a great alternative.”
Anybody interested in beta-testing or investment opportunities
can contact feedback@stormix.com or phone 604.688.9137 for more
information. Stormix’s web site is www.stormix.com.
—
nTechnical Writer, Stormix Technologies
Tel: 604.688.9137 Ext. 130
Fax: 604.688.7317
2040 – 555 West Hastings Street
Vancouver, BC, Canada V6B 4N6