LWN: 2001 Linux timeline

October, 2001

If the W3C persists in its present course, it risks having its tea dumped in Boston harbor as the first move in a revolution that will vest effective control of Web standards in open-source groups like the Apache Software Foundation and entirely out of the ambit of the W3C and its sponsors.
-- Eric Raymond

SuSE closes a $14 million funding round and notes that it will lay off 120 people (announcement).

LinuxDevices.com separates from CNet and becomes, again, an independent site (announcement).

LWN announces financial difficulties and a search for a sustainable future. We're still working on it.

LWN.net senior editor Michael Hammel leaves as part of the above-mentioned difficulties. We still miss him.

The Liberty Alliance launches as an alternative to Microsoft's HailStorm initiative (announcement).

Red Hat acquires VA Linux Systems's open source consulting group (announcement).
But regardless of whether the remediation takes the form of a patch or a workaround, an administrator doesn't need to know how a vulnerability works in order to understand how to protect against it, any more than a person needs to know how to cause a headache in order to take an aspirin.
-- Microsoft's Scott Culp blames the messenger

The W3C backs off on allowing patented technology in web standards. Eben Moglen and Bruce Perens join its patent policy working group. A final determination has not happened, however.

Progeny Linux Systems ceases development on its Progeny Debian distribution (announcement).

[Konqi] Yellow Dog Linux 2.1 is released (announcement).

KDE turns five (initial call for developers).

Qt 3.0 is released (announcement).

The 2.2.20 changelog is censored due to Alan Cox's fear of DMCA problems if he documents security fixes (changelog).
Linux is being viewed as an opportunity to enable users to get out from under the yoke of proprietary platforms and high software license fees and into a much more flexible and evenhanded negotiating position. But vendors will always seek new opportunities to wedge users into proprietary solutions, so users must remain vigilant to avoid past mistakes that led to lock-in.
-- The Gartner Group

[emacs] GNU Emacs 21.1 is released, with more features than ever (announcement).

The Annual Linux Showcase offers free admission in hopes of drawing more attendees.

Red Hat Linux 7.2 is released (announcement).

Linux saves millions for Amazon.com, according to the company's SEC filing.

SuSE Linux 7.3 is released (announcement). [ghostscript]

The ghostscript project leaves SourceForge, citing concerns about the site's future (announcement).

Linux Game Publishing starts up, with promises of high-profile game ports for Linux (web site).

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