Linux leaders seek to counter Microsoft

The most powerful figures of the free software community are meeting at Google Headquarters to debate the future, as well as countermeasures against lawsuits from Microsoft.

The top, most bloody names of the Linux community will spend up to 3 days just to answer the question: Ignore or fight against Microsoft, the world's number one software company.

The war situation between the proprietary software and open source software became especially tense after Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer threatened to drag anyone to Linux software (other than Novell). , for the reason . open source violated . 235 exclusive patents of Microsoft.

As usual, delegates will attend the conference in jeans and T-shirts instead of rigid, rigid suits. They savor sweetness successfully, when Linux is increasingly used in personal computers, websites and even mobile phones.

Linux is the best known variant of open source software. Users are using, changing and sharing it completely for free. Linux distributors only make money from providing upgrade, maintenance and technical support services.

Meanwhile, Microsoft charged the software sold by the company and vehemently rejected the free sharing of product source code.

The atmosphere of the Conference suddenly became tense after the news that Linspire, a company selling personal computers with Linux pre-installed through Wal-Mart's retail system, became the third company (after Novell). and Xandros) suffered "kneeling" in front of Microsoft with a "protection" agreement.

Microsoft: Is the death row?

Many delegates could not hide their resentment towards Microsoft by calling the Software Giant the "number one enemy".

However, the majority of the audience still believes that Linux users will decide their own fate, and that Microsoft threatens to sue is only a desperate attempt to create "fear, insecurity and suspicion". in the user's mind.

James Bottomley, currently chief technology officer at Steeleye Technologies, said Microsoft could not sue Linux customers, since most Linux users also use Microsoft software.

" Their customers (Microsoft) are our customers, too. Microsoft 's intimidation is like throwing a knife into their hands ."

Similarly, Zend Technologies, a developer of open source PHP programming languages, is currently used by many websites, also holding a neutral stance. 80% of their customers are using open source software, but Zend still signed a deal with Microsoft recently.

" On the one hand, Microsoft needs to protect their huge business. But few know that there are many people in Microsoft who think open source is the future. Only they dare not admit it. declared, "said Zend CEO Harold Goldberg.

Split and distribute internally

Besides Microsoft is the biggest competitor, open source software firms themselves have to compete with nearly 360 other Linux distributors. This large number promotes the speed of creation and improvement of Linux, but on the other hand, it breaks down and distributes the capacity of the development community.

" Even in the open source community, there is a" We "and" They "idea." We do this project, and they don't interfere. "The open source community itself has there is no solidarity , 'said Mark Shuttlesworth, founder of Ubuntu - a desktop Linux version commented.

Once upon a time, only technology believers or new master experts tinkered with Linux as an after-hours hobby. But now a lot of people are paid well to use and develop Linux. Many leading open source developers are currently working for giants like Google, HP and Oracle.

Trong Cam