4 ms·

The loss of Solaris is a tremendous tragedy to the technology world. I once welcomed it's demise. But the lack of any and all competing platforms for Linux has

The loss of Solaris is a tremendous tragedy to the technology world. I once welcomed it's demise. But the lack of any and all competing platforms for Linux has lead Linux down a not entirely happy road

Annatar 7y ago
Remember how we used to have this dreadful Windows monoculture in the '90's of the past century? Now it's GNU/Linux monoculture...
- jcelerier 7y ago
  There is nothing comparable with an open and a closed monoculture though. And can we even talk of GNU/Linux monoculture when you've got a few working distros - e.g. Void, Alpine - with non-GNU userland, or distros with completely different userspace models - try to compare Ubuntu, Gentoo, Nix, GoboLinux, etc. Do you have init (systemd-init, sysvinit, openrc), network management (systemd-networkd, NetworkManager, connman), dhcp (systemd-networkd dhcpcd, etc), audio (pulseaudio, pipewire, raw alsa + dmix, etc), graphics (X11, wayland), desktop shell (gnome, KDE Plasma, XFCE, i3) debate in the windows world ? No because except for the last you cannot ever change how it is done yourself on windows, while on the "GNU/Linux" ecosystem everyone is free to come with its own better idea for $SYSTEMCOMPONENT and put it in the open marketplace of competing ideas.
trasz 7y ago
Only if you assume OSX or FreeBSD don’t exist.
- Decade 7y ago
  OS X was never a great Unix (other than paying to get the official trademark that one time), and it’s becoming even less of a Unix over time. FreeBSD is OK, but very lacking in manpower. Every time I install a desktop package these days, I see multiple warnings about how this or that dependency has no maintainer. With so much attention these days on Docker and other halfway measures involving namespaces, it’s not really Unix that’s the platform anymore. Linux is the platform for a variety of network and desktop applications.
  - trasz 7y ago
    OSX is the only Unix system actually used in non-microscopic quantities on desktops. Regarding Docker - it’s like saying it’s not Linux that’s the platform anymore, it’s the hypervisor. Linux is just one of the layers.
- easytiger 7y ago
  OsX and freebsd are nowhere in global commodity enterprise deployment. Not to mention OsX is awful
icedchai 7y ago
A few of the early startups I worked for were all Solaris shops (mid 90's to early 2000's.) I kind of miss it. I still have an Ultra box at home, but haven't turned it on in over 10 years.

Annatar 7y ago

Remember how we used to have this dreadful Windows monoculture in the '90's of the past century? Now it's GNU/Linux monoculture...

jcelerier 7y ago
There is nothing comparable with an open and a closed monoculture though. And can we even talk of GNU/Linux monoculture when you've got a few working distros - e.g. Void, Alpine - with non-GNU userland, or distros with completely different userspace models - try to compare Ubuntu, Gentoo, Nix, GoboLinux, etc. Do you have init (systemd-init, sysvinit, openrc), network management (systemd-networkd, NetworkManager, connman), dhcp (systemd-networkd dhcpcd, etc), audio (pulseaudio, pipewire, raw alsa + dmix, etc), graphics (X11, wayland), desktop shell (gnome, KDE Plasma, XFCE, i3) debate in the windows world ? No because except for the last you cannot ever change how it is done yourself on windows, while on the "GNU/Linux" ecosystem everyone is free to come with its own better idea for $SYSTEMCOMPONENT and put it in the open marketplace of competing ideas.

trasz 7y ago

Only if you assume OSX or FreeBSD don’t exist.

Decade 7y ago
OS X was never a great Unix (other than paying to get the official trademark that one time), and it’s becoming even less of a Unix over time. FreeBSD is OK, but very lacking in manpower. Every time I install a desktop package these days, I see multiple warnings about how this or that dependency has no maintainer. With so much attention these days on Docker and other halfway measures involving namespaces, it’s not really Unix that’s the platform anymore. Linux is the platform for a variety of network and desktop applications.
- trasz 7y ago
  OSX is the only Unix system actually used in non-microscopic quantities on desktops. Regarding Docker - it’s like saying it’s not Linux that’s the platform anymore, it’s the hypervisor. Linux is just one of the layers.
easytiger 7y ago
OsX and freebsd are nowhere in global commodity enterprise deployment. Not to mention OsX is awful

icedchai 7y ago

A few of the early startups I worked for were all Solaris shops (mid 90's to early 2000's.) I kind of miss it. I still have an Ultra box at home, but haven't turned it on in over 10 years.