Date: Thu, 23 Mar 2000 00:55:25 +0100
From: Gael Duval <gduval@mandrakesoft.com>
To: lwn@lwn.net
Subject: MandrakeSoft buys Bochs for Linux and commits it to Open Source.

Kevin Lawton is the lead developer of two major software projects
which allow users to run Windows programs on their Linux platform. His
first project "Bochs" is a portable x86 PC emulator, which runs on
most all platforms including Linux/x86 and Linux/PPC. Bochs has been
developed in an open "bazaar" style since its inception in 1994 and
has involved some few hundred developers. Up to now, Bochs has used a
commercial license.

In March 1999, Kevin founded the FreeMWare project now known as «
Plex86 », an open source alternative to the commercial software from
VMware(TM).  Plex86 quickly attracted the attention of many users in
search of an open source and high-performance way to run Windows
applications on Linux and other operating systems.  There are over 300
interested people on the developer's list. Development of Plex86 is
progressing rapidly, drawing from 6 years of work and a large code
base intersect with the Bochs project. 

"MandrakeSoft recognizes the value brought to our Linux users, by
offering them an open source way to concurrently run Windows or other
PC operating systems.  We have purchased the Bochs PC emulator, and
committed it to open source.  It is a great pleasure to have Kevin as
part of our team, and to support the development of these great
projects", said Jacques Le Marois, President of MandrakeSoft. 

"I can't tell you how happy I am to be working for MandrakeSoft. They
really stepped up to the plate for open source.  It's a pleasure to be
working with a very progressive team.  Great distro! These guys are
the ones to watch", said Kevin Lawton.

Since Bochs has just been commited to an Open-Source license (LGPL),
the Plex86 project can now benefit from source code already
implemented in Bochs. This will speed up the Plex86 development.

Plex86 project can be seen at: http://www.plex86.org
Linux-Mandrake distribution can be seen at:
http://www.linux-mandrake.com

--
< Gael DUVAL - gduval@mandrakesoft.com >
< http://www.mandrake.com >