---

LinuxMall.com: Survival of the Forkest?

[ Thanks to LinuxNews.com Editor for this
link. ]

“Linux’s history as an Open Source operating system (OS)
could make a chapter in a rewrite of Charles Darwin’s century-old
On the Origin of Species.
The forking of the Linux OS into
different versions differs significantly from the forking UNIX
experienced in the 1980’s–in ways that seem to be adaptive rather
than detrimental. Forking for Linux may actually be a form of
evolution of the software as a whole rather than the fragmenting of
the system into units that compete with each other.”

“Linux’s adaptiblity in different versions may give it the edge
in this survival-of-the-fittest model. “There is no incentive for
Linux to fork,” Young told InfoWorld. “Its primary value is its
single kernel on which to build features for customers to
use.””

“The variety of Linux distributions and applications may prove
to be Linux’s greatest asset–provided the kernel remains stable
and universal for the various types. But Linux has one more
advantage over static proprietary systems–the evolution of the
kernel itself.”

“The maintenance of a universal, stable kernel seems to be the
key to Linux’s ability to adapt to new conditions and continue to
grow and succeed while avoiding incompatibility issues and
self-competition. One movement toward preserving a standard kernel
is the two-year-old effort by some of the major vendors to
establish a Linux Standard Base (LSB). The LSB is moving toward
establishing a universally agreed-upon set of kernel elements and
supporting components and features.”

Complete
Story

Get the Free Newsletter!

Subscribe to Developer Insider for top news, trends, & analysis