|
Linux for Die-hard Mac Users Preface This article represents an attempt to briefly introduce
Linux to Mac users. Linux cannot be ignored these days - its installed
base is about the same as MacOS and growing very rapidly, smashing
mostly Windows NT, Novell, and sometimes, even MacOS X Server. There are no questions if Linux popularity will grow, it certainly will, and not only among personal computer, workstation and workgroup server users. Recently released Linux 2.4 kernel allows effectively deploy Linux on almost anything from embedded microprocessors (which accounted 90% of all microprocessors sold), used in handheld computers and electronic devices; to SMP (symmetric multiprocessing) enterprise server platforms (with up to 16 CPUs and as much as 64 GB of memory) and even clusters with 100+ CPUs. Open Source Tidal Wave
The idea of open source, or GNU General Public License (GPL) is to give everyone access to source code and freedom to modify and distribute them, either for gratis either for money, at no extra charge or licensing fees. However, all modification have to be made available at the same open source licensing terms. Commercial developers in most cases do not use open source libraries because they do not make their sources available to the public. It does not mean that commercial software can not exist on Linux. If one is going to distribute modified version of Linux, he must do it under GPL license, which allows everyone else (agreed with GPL, of course) to use his sources, however, if the same person or company has a software which just runs on the Linux and do not explicitly include portions from GPL libraries, there is no obligation to publish source codes. In other words, GPL license acts like a virus. Misunderstanding of GPL license sometimes scare commercial developers. Anyway, both open source and commercial software do coexist on Linux! Another question is usually how people are going to make a money writing software if anyone else can use, modify, and sell it. Many Linux people do not sell software, they sell professional services and solutions. In reality, if some basic software is free, it does not mean it can be used by the end user as is. Probably no one would be happy to have a heap of bricks and stones instead of house. Thus, the Linux industry is about to sell customized turnkey solutions without extra fees for closed and proprietary technologies, which have certain chances to become orphaned when manufacturer faces financial problems or falls under acquirement and/or restructuring. Again, traditional software business (fee per each user license) exists on Linux, too. Nobody said you are obliged to give away sources of your product just because it runs on the Linux! Many people are confused with large number of Linux distributions available on the market. First of all, all Linux distributions, except few very specialized, are based on the same code base. There are two major branches, first one is Debian, maintained by the group of 500 volunteers; and second is the Red Hat distribution, from the Red Hat Inc.
Linux software usually comes in RPM (Red Hat Package Manager) format. Debian uses its own deb format, but special tool called alien can convert and install RPMs. Software which is still at development stage often distributed as compressed archive of object, script and configuration files (tar.gz or tgz). Almost all Linux software available in source code format, what means that you can compile it yourself using make utility and GNU development tools, which are included with every Linux distribution. So, after all, what is the difference between distributions?
How large is Mac Linux installed base? LinuxPPC Inc. president estimates around 250,000 - 500,000 (by January 2001). Based on the information from mailing lists I can judge that majority of Mac Linux run on the PowerPC 604 PCI based machines (7300, 7500, etc.) and Beige G3, usually as WEB and mail servers. Its a fixed fact that Linux allows to recycle many old Macs, which are not suitable for daily work anymore. |
Unfortunately, Linux and Mac users often have completely different
mentality. Linux fans sometimes qualify Mac as closed, vanishing,
and soon to be obsolete platform, while die-hard Mac users call Linux
awkward and clumsy UNIX clone. Neither is true, none of the platforms
is universal and for everyone, both Mac and Linux can coexist in either
office either production environments, utilizing advantages of both.
Linux
cannot be understood without a clue of 
RPM
Another
Mac Linux called 
Finally,