[advocacy-discuss] "What is OpenSolaris" page

[Alex Leverington]

On May 6, 2008, at 10:44 PM, Octave Orgeron wrote:

> Hi Everyone,
>
> I think we all have some strong opinions about the release of  
> Indiana as OpenSolaris. It is good that as users, developers,  
> sysadmins, etc, we have something to say. I also see that there is a  
> divide where our participation as a community may be in jeopardy. I  
> see the two sides have the following points:
>
> Traditionalist:
> 1. Need for UNIX/POSIX Compliance
> 2. Support for SPARC, Jumpstart, etc.
> 3. Users should be able to learn the OS and not be hidden from it.
> 4. Anger with the Indiana=OpenSolaris issue
>
> Modernist:
> 1. Need for GNU look/feel
> 2. Focus on x86 before SPARC
> 3. Users should not have to learn the OS
> 4. Emulate the Linux way of doing things

I don't think the goal is to emulate linux so much as to integrate  
successful and useful functionality and at the very least make Solaris  
easier to use, with Linux being a comparable model.


> So this brings up lots of questions and fun debate points that the  
> non-Sun and Sun developers can chew over for months. But ultimately,  
> I would pose the following big questions:
>
> 1. Considering that Apple has captured more of the UNIX desktop  
> market from both Sun and Linux, are we focused on the right end-user  
> experience?

I'm not sure the point is to create a next generation desktop as it is  
to focus on creating a desktop which can be used to administer the  
next generation of Solaris. CLI works great for training, creating  
tons of book material, and integration via scripts; when it comes down  
to it, graphical user interface = productivity.

> 2. How are we really going to stand out from Linux/MacOS/BSD/etc and  
> attract users, developers, sysadmins, and businesses?

Solaris features aren't good enough? second I would guess is the  
packaging system - which, as with SPARC support - is a work in progress!

> 5. How can we capture enough developers to participate in taking  
> OpenSolaris to the next step? Or do we accept that most of the  
> development will come from Sun?

Community.

>
> Ultimately, both the "traditionalist" and the "modernist" have to  
> come together and face these big questions. Otherwise, we'll  
> alienate each other and go our separate ways. I don't think that's  
> what any of us want. We're all here to participate in the  
> development of OpenSolaris. So I urge both sides to take the bull by  
> the horns and get things back on track. Together we are much  
> stronger and can accomplish more than when we divide and fight  
> amongst ourselves.

Well said. This isn't just an upgrade.

>
>
> Octave
>
> *-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*
> Octave J. Orgeron
> Solaris Systems Engineer
> http://www.opensolaris.org/os/community/sysadmin/
> http://unixconsole.blogspot.com
> unixconsole at yahoo.com
> *-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*
>
>
>      
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