From: gil@netcom.com (Gilbert Nardo) Subject: Berkeley CSRG = NULL Date: Wed, 30 Jun 1993 03:45:55 GMT
[Note: except for the first two sentences that follow, this stuff is
my own analysis and am interested in constructive criticisms]
The budget cuts in the California state schools have now hit
the CSRG group. This translates to the end of 4.XBSD (or X.XBSD)
releases -- 4.4BSD is officially the last CSRG release. The bad news
is that a portion of linux (networking stuff, mostly) relies on some
of these developments. The good news is that the value of Linux goes
up (but still free :-)), since it is actively being developed. The close
adherence of Linux to Posix ought to continue this trend. Additionally,
the hours logged in developing Linux over several hardware combinations
will make it hard for other newbie OSs to catch up.
There are still many hurdles to jump, such as being out-gunned
and out-manuvered. Linux is out-gunned because of the advertising dollars
that commercial OSs dole out (if you don't believe advertising doesn't
work, then try to explain pet rocks and cabbage patch dolls :-)). It is
also out-manuvered because it is an open development effort -- it is
difficult to organize the entire effort. The latter part has its
pros and cons, but usually small organized groups tend to be stronger
that large semi-organized groups.
-- Gil Nardo | gil@netcom.com Migrant Computing Services | (415)664-1032 (voice) 1032 Irving Street, #435 |----------------- San Francisco, 94122 | Save the Universe: Stop Entropy Now!