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See also: last week's Distributions page.

Distributions


Please note that security updates from the various distributions are covered in the security section.

Pick a distro (ZDNet). ZDNet's Evan Leibovitch looks at the increasing variety of Linux distributions and likes what he sees. "What all this leads to is what appears to be a contradictory conclusion: the increasing variety of Linux distributions actually simplifies your choices. Instead of expecting a single distribution to do everything and understand your field of speciality, chances are you'll be able to find a company or group that understands what you want out of your OS and that has a Linux package tweaked in your direction."

We agree with Evan whole-heartedly and will continue to celebrate the strength that lies in the diversity of Linux distributions.

cLIeNUX. Challenging and stretching the definition of a Linux distribution, cLIeNUX is a distribution which has chosen to release software developed specifically for cLIeNUX under a licenses that restricts its redistribution: "The current 'cLIeNUX Core' is intended to serve as the basis for a membership model of open source software compensation, and as a basis for a member-built unbounded Linux/GNU/unix."

That is just the beginning, though. cLIeNUX, whose name is meant to imply "client-use Linux", has explicitly chosen to break with the Linux Standards Base, instituting its own file system standard and then providing scripts to theoretically make it possible to install LSB-compatible binaries on cLIeNUX.

Next, they also choose to redefine specific Linux/Unix commands, or to provide non-standard aliases for them: "'cat' has been renamed to 'get'. Relax. 'cat' is in your PATH in /command/unix. There's about 50 like that. This makes things harder for old hands and easier for newbies. cLIeNUX is like that."

They've made some interesting choices about what software to include as well. "cLIeNUX has ed and Pico, but not vi." They have not done this in total isolation. Their documents speak of conversations with Richard Stallman, for example, who, of course, was not supportive of their planned licensing.

Why, then, are they doing all of this? Using information from their distribution, the idea seems to be to support a model for compensating authors of open source software. Reading this description, it seems a bit like shareware -- membership is voluntary but people who are both members and developers get a proportionate share of 20% of the membership revenue, presuming there is any.

We've reviewed their materials and hope to keep an open mind. There is nothing to suggest that they are not well intentioned. However, there is also not a lot here that looks particularly appealing to us. Nothing in the description of the distribution offers enough of value to warrant their choices to purposefully break compatibility with other Linux distributions. However, in the name of diversity, they have their opportunity to prove us wrong, by attracting sufficient developers and users to prove their model viable. Two years ago, prior to the availability of good jobs for open source programmers at companies that are becoming aware of the value of open source, we would have been more supportive of the planned revenue model, at least as an experiment. Even then, though, we were unlikely to be impressed by the methods they've chosen.

SPIRO-Linux founder departs. Rick Collette, creator of the SPIRO-Linux distribution, has announced his departure from the company. This is one example of a developer joining with a commercial company which did not work out well and gives a warning to other developers to be careful. "I'm a programmer, not an attourney. My nature is to trust people. When Inventive Communications offered me the contract, I glanced over it and it looked good to me, so I signed it." Be careful out there, everyone. We wish Rick the best in his future endeavours.

German-localized distributions. Halloween Linux is a distribution based on Red Hat and localized for German users. The web site is sparse, so checking this separate description is recommended. (Both sites are in German).

Red Linux is also a German-localized version of the freely distributable portions of Red Hat. Thanks to Fred Mobach for pointing out these distributions. Note that he also mentioned they have been receiving some good reports in the German press.

Caldera OpenLinux

Caldera Lizard bug. Caldera's Lizard installer has a bug in it that, in cases where a DNS server is not found promptly, causes the installer to scan an entire class C network. Richard Johnson posted this description of the problem and Olaf Kirch responded, explaining the source of the problem. Caldera are working on a resolution.

Debian GNU/Linux

Debian-Hurd Kernel Cousin. This week's Debian-hurd Kernel Cousin is available for an update on this project.

LoopLinux

LoopLinux 9, a new version of this tiny distribution, has been announced.

Yellow Dog Linux

Yellow Dog Champion Server 1.2 released. Terra Soft Solutions has announced the release of Yellow Dog Champion Server 1.2.

Section Editor: Liz Coolbaugh


March 2, 2000

Please note that not every distribution will show up every week. Only distributions with recent news to report will be listed.


Leading
Caldera OpenLinux
Debian GNU/Linux
Linux-Mandrake
Red Hat
Slackware
SuSE
TurboLinux

Also well-known
ASPLinux
Best Linux
Conectiva Linux
e-smith

Progeny
Rock Linux

Non-technical desktop
easyLinux
Icepack Linux
Independence
LibraNet
Redmond Linux
WinSlack

Education
Boston University
kmLinux
LinuxFromScratch
OpenClassroom
Red Escolar

General Purpose
Alzza Linux
aXon Linux
Bad Penguin Linux
BearOps
Black Cat Linux
BluePoint Linux
BYO Linux
CAEN Linux
Cafe Linux
ChainSaw Linux
Circle MUDLinux
cLIeNUX
Complete Linux
Console Linux
Corel Linux
CRUX
Darkstar Linux
DLite
easyLinux
Elfstone Linux
ESware Linux
Eurielec Linux
eXecutive Linux
Fried Chicken
FTOSX
FullPliant
Gentoo
Go!Linux
HA Linux
Halloween Linux
HispaFuentes
IceLinux
Ivrix
ix86 Linux
J-LINUX
JBLinux
Jurix
KRUD
KSI-Linux
Lanthan Linux
Laonux
LASER5
Leetnux
Linpus Linux
Linux Cyrillic Edition
Linux MLD
LinuxOne OS
LinuxPPP
Linux Pro Plus
Linux-SIS
LNX System
LoopLinux
LSD
Lute Linux
MageNet
Mastodon
MaxOS
minilinux
MSC.Linux

NoMad Linux
Omoikane GNU/Linux
PingOO Linux
Plamo Linux
PLD
Project Ballantain
PROSA
Rabid Squirrel
Repairlix
Root Linux
Scrudgeware
Serial Terminal
Sorcerer
spyLinux
Stampede
Stataboware
TechLinux
TimeSys Linux/RT
Tom Linux
Trinux
Turkuaz
Ute-Linux
VA-enhanced Red Hat
Vine Linux
Virtual Linux
WholeLinux
WinLinux 2000
XTeamLinux
ZipSpeak

Country-specific
Argentina
GNU/Linux Ututo
Britain
Definite Linux
Eridani
China
COSIX
Red Flag
France
Linux/MNIS
Italy
LinuxEspresso
Madeinlinux
Vedova
Spain
Linux Esware
Thailand
Kaiwal Linux
Thai Linux Extension

Related Projects
Chinese Linux Extension

Historical (Non-active)
Dualix
Gentus
Giotto
MCC Interim Linux
OS2000
Storm Linux


 

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