Kernel release: 2.6.16.44, Mar 20, 2007

2.6.16.44 has been released today.
See changelog for full details.

Files added: 49
Files changed: 632
Files removed: 4

In a small conference room across the street from the location of Novell's BrainShare conference, free-software advocate Bruce Perens attacked Novell's patent deal with Microsoft and said that Novell was enabling Microsoft to run "a protection racket" with the threat of its patents.

Because Linux isn't compatible with most existing computers, what it can do is somewhat limited, analysts said. For example, few computer-based games run on Linux. Versions of Linux would work better on an appliance-type desktop — one that performs a smaller set of specific functions, said Roger Kay, president of Endpoint Technologies Associates Inc.

Red Hat is planning a packaged Linux desktop solution that it hopes will push its Linux desktop offering to a far broader audience than exists for its current client solution.

Almost two years ago, the FSF (Free Software Foundation) started work on the first update of the GNU GPL (General Public License) in over a decade. A last-minute hitch, though, is keeping the license from appearing.

Ian Murdock founded Debian GNU/Linux nearly fifteen years ago, and today it provides the foundations for many well-known distros such as Ubuntu and Knoppix. LXF caught up with Ian, who currently chairs the Linux Standards base, and asked him about Debian politics, leadership and the rise of Ubuntu

In yet another sign of its seriousness when it comes to open source, Sun Microsystems has hired Ian Murdock to be its first Chief Operating Platforms Officer.

FoxPro is going open-source, and with it, the ancient DBMS and development language may be getting a new lease on life.

 View older news this year: Jul Jun May Apr Mar Feb Jan
 View news from other years: 2007, 2006, 2005, 2004, 2003, 2002, 2001, 2000, 1999