[advocacy-discuss] OpenSolaris (TM)

[Brandorr]

On 10/22/07, Shawn Walker <swalker at opensolaris.org> wrote:
> On 22/10/2007, ameya agnihotri <ameyaagnihotri22 at gmail.com> wrote:
> > >> How about having OpenSolaris Kernel and other related utility programs as
> > >> reference?
> > >> Let say we will call OpenSolaris Kernel and other related utility
> > programs
> > >> as "OpenSolaris Core"
> >
> > >That isn't good enough; simply having the same kernel and utilities
> > >isn't enough to guarantee compatibility.
> >
> > if we have same kernel, loader, linker, compiler,a shell ( and libraries and
> > other utilities build using these tools) i think it will be reasonable to
> > say that we are compatible. We will face issues with directory hierarchy (
> > location of binaries /bin, /usr/local/bin etc) and environment variables.
> > what else do we need to ensure compatibility? Have i missed something?
>
> Almost every GNU/Linux distribution has the same loader, linker,
> compiler, shell, etc. yet they are obviously not wholly compatible.
> It's quite easy to produce *binaries* that run on one distribution and
> not another. So, yes, that isn't enough.

Shawn, I would say Linux is unique because kernel "bumps" break
compatibility within a single distro.

I'd also argue that "It's quite easy to compile..." a binary on an IPS
based system, that wouldn't run on the minimum slim-install of an IPS
distro, despite being based on identical binaries.

I think the big issue that is causing confusion is that Open + Solaris
brings to mind OpenBSD. It seems to imply that there are other Solaris
distros out there: GNUSolaris, FreeSolaris, NetSolaris, and such.

Since no one but Sun can call a distro RandomSolaris, OpenSolaris must
be reserved for that purpose.

-Brian

P.S. - I was originally for OpenSolaris the OS, but my view has been
broadened since.

> --
> Shawn Walker, Software and Systems Analyst
> binarycrusader at gmail.com - http://binarycrusader.blogspot.com/
>
> "Beware of bugs in the above code; I have only proved it correct, not
> tried it. " --Donald Knuth
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-- 
- Brian Gupta

http://opensolaris.org/os/project/nycosug/