Moved LQ to XCache

January 7, 2007 Leave a comment

I just moved part of the LQ infrastructure (the main site) from APC to XCache. I haven't necessarily been unhappy with APC, but I've seen a lot about XCache recently so I figured I'd check it out. We have some other performance improvements planned for LQ in the near future, but every bit helps. If you notice any difference, let me know. LQ gets a good amount of traffic and we're planning for solid growth this year, so ensuring the infrastructure is scalable and performant is critical for us. If there's a big difference either way, I'll report back here. Next up is to see if Xdebug works with XCache enabled (last time I checked, it didn't work with APC enabled).
–jeremy

Filed under Linux, LinuxQuestions.org, Main Page, Open Source

MySQL refines its GPL licensing scheme under MySQL 5.0 and MySQL 5.1

January 4, 2007 2 Comments

According to this blog post from Kaj, MySQL VP of community relations, the company is changing the wording of the GPL license for both 5.0 and 5.1. From the post:
MySQL has today refined its licensing scheme from “GPLv2 or later” to “GPLv2 only“, in order to make it an option, not an obligation for the company to move to GPLv3.
Specifically, this means that copyright notice in the MySQL source code files will change from referring to “either version 2 of the License, or (at your option) any later version” to “version 2” only, in the MySQL 5.0 and MySQL 5.1 code bases.
Six years ago in the summer of 2000, when MySQL AB licensed its software under the GPL, our founders David Axmark and Michael Widenius made this choice because the GPL was a license followed and respected by everyone. We have kept to it, because the GPL is the most palatable license, and poses the least friction for our user base.
It should be noted that MySQL AB is on GPLv3 Committee B, which advises the FSF. Basically what this move means, is that any GPLv3 fork of the MySQL code would need to happen at the last version of the MySQL code released under the old wording. It would need to be a clean break and no sharing of code would be allowed. The move seems to be a continuation of the sentiment some businesses are having with the GPLv3. To be completely honest, I've never liked (or even understood) the “or later” clause. Why would you agree to release your code under a license that hasn't been written yet. Right now, and for their entire history, the FSF has rocked. Even so, what if something crazy happens and the GPLv10 includes wording you are vehemently against? If your code has the “or later” clause the GPLv10 will apply. It's a blank check or sorts, which just seems like a bad idea. Maybe I'm missing something.
–jeremy

Filed under Linux, Main Page, MySQL, Open Source

LinuxWorld Open Solutions Summit

January 2, 2007 Leave a comment

Looks like I'll be on the “Ask the Experts” panel at the upcoming LinuxWorld Open Solutions Summit in NYC.
Bring your toughest open source problem to our crack team of LinuxWorld.com contributors, open source developers, and IT security and administration professionals! From software selection, configuration, and hardware, and bandwidth requirements to the unpredictable human elements that make an IT project succeed or fail, you'll get working answers and pointers to open source projects, documentation, and online forums that will turn every problem into an opportunity.
I don't have a ton of detail beyond that yet, but I do know fellow panelists include Jeremy Allison and Donald Becker. If you'll be near New York City (or need an excuse to go to NYC) on February 14-15, I highly suggest you check out the LinuxWorld Open Solutions Summit.
–jeremy

Filed under Linux, LinuxQuestions.org, LinuxWorld, Main Page, Open Source

To binary or not to binary, that is the question

January 1, 2007 1 Comment

A new look at an issue I've covered before. From the article:
The Ubuntu developers are in the process of deciding whether to enable binary-only drivers by default in their installation process, under certain limited circumstances. This decision process has prompted the latest wave in a conversation that's nearly as old as Linux itself. Some see this step as a compromise on the principles of freedom, and point out the numerous practical problems with binary drivers: lack of portability, dependence on the vendor to fix security flaws, dependence on the vendor to continue supporting your hardware, etc. Others take a pragmatic perspective, draw the line that Ubuntu will not cross, or point out that Ubuntu developers also care about the principles of freedom and intend to educate their users on the reasons for choosing open source drivers and hardware vendors that offer open source drivers.
Ultimately the question boils down to “What action is most likely to get us what we want?” Both the pro-binarists and the anti-binarists want more open source drivers, and both want more Linux users.
The conclusion Allison comes up with is one I agree with: One thing that does catch the attention of pretty much any company is money. Money and market share. I've mentioned before that I don't think we've reached the stage in the Linux community yet where we can demand Open Source drivers for everything. That doesn't mean we shouldn't do everything in our power to educate companies until they see the light. Having some distros take the hard line and others allow binary drivers is probably realistically the best path. It's one that hits on a core Open Source tenant; Choice is Good.
–jeremy

Filed under Linux, Main Page, Open Source

Voting Has Opened for the 2006 LinuxQuestions.org Members Choice Awards

December 31, 2006 Leave a comment

With the new year right around the corner, voting for the 2006 LinuxQuestions.org Members Choice Awards is now open. There are 21 categories this year. Based on feedback we dropped a couple polls that had either consistently low turnout or landslide (90%+) victories and also added a couple new polls. We have set a record for number of votes each and every year we've done this, and I expect the same this year. I think we improve the process every year, but it's not too late to suggest improvements for this years poll (and even if the suggestion doesn't get implemented this year, it may impact how we set things up in the future). This is your chance to have your opinion heard. Vote now!
–jeremy

Filed under Linux, LinuxQuestions.org, Main Page, Open Source

Google and the Issue of Trust

December 31, 2006 Leave a comment

Sparked by a post by Blake Ross, many are starting to question Google. The “tips” issue seems to be the tipping point for many. To be honest, that issue doesn't bother me much. For me, it came when they deprecated the SOAP API. In my mind, that marked the first time Google made a decision based on something besides technical merit. If they had dropped the SOAP API for something like a REST API, I'd have thought much differently about the situation. The replacement, however, was the AJAX Search API which is in no way comparable. The SOAP API allowed you to do whatever you needed to do with the data. The AJAX Search API doesn't allow you to do anything with the data except show it verbatim, and it has ads. The deprecation was especially poignant for LQ, since we used it as an alternative search method to supplement our normal search functionality (which uses FULLTEXT). We'll either need to drop the alternative search, or move it to something like the Yahoo! REST API. 2007 may prove to be an interesting year for Google. They remain technically superior, but they may find they're not able to do some of the things they do (giving no idea of what the revenue share on AdSense is comes to mind, but so do other things) once they are no longer the darling. Being able to ignore the Street and move in whatever direction they wanted has been a core strength of Google in my mind. That ability may be coming to an end though. Kudos to Matt Cutts (a Google employee) for speaking on the issue openly and transparently. That's what's needed right now. Goggle has been very good at responding to criticism in the past. Hopefully that trend will continue.
–jeremy
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Filed under Google, LinuxQuestions.org, Main Page

New Site Section – LQ Screenshots

December 30, 2006 Leave a comment

Just in time for the new year, I'm proud to announce that we have added a new section to LQ. LQ Screenshots offers a visual overview for a large number of Linux distributions. This allows you to get a basic feel for a distro before trying it out. The site is fully functional, but the look does need to be updated to bring it in line with the rest of the LQ network. We do have some additional functionality in mind, and one of the first moves will be some integration with LQ ISO. As always, we're looking for your feedback. I'd like to thank Chris for not only working with me to get this on LQ, but for building a great service.
–jeremy

Filed under Linux, LinuxQuestions.org, Main Page, Open Source

Now Microsoft Wants Its Laptop Back

December 28, 2006 1 Comment

I'm going to quickly cover this Microsoft-related story, but for a reason different than most times I cover Microsoft (which is because it's Linux-related). Basically, Microsoft sent a bunch of Ferrari laptops with Windows Vista installed to some bloggers they felt were influential. Let me begin by saying I don't think they did anything wrong. Let me also say, I'm not surprised I didn't get one ;) Here's a snippet to show the intent:
This would be a review machine, so I’d love to hear your opinion on the machine and OS. Full disclosure, while I hope you will blog about your experience with the pc, you don’t have to. Also, you are welcome to send the machine back to us after you are done playing with it, or you can give it away to your community, or you can hold onto it for as long as you’d like. Just let me know what you plan to do with it when the time comes. And if you run into any problems let me know. A few of the drivers aren't quite final, but are very close.
I'd have preferred that if it was blogged about that disclosure was mandatory, but the option to return, keep or give away the laptop with no obligation to blog about it makes the marketing program seem 100% acceptable and legitimate to me. So why the outcry? I don't think it would have been as bad for any company except Microsoft. They have burned through so much community good will and fostered so much resentment that even when they do a good thing, it comes back to bite them. This should be a wake up call for some and a good indicator as to how far in Karma debit Microsoft really is. To be sure, it's not a lost cause…but they have a lot of making up to do. This should be a lesson to other companies, though. Be mindful of how you act, it does make a difference.
–jeremy
Edit (12.28 3:52): Some very interesting conversation going on about this in the Blogosphere. Joel is insightful as ever and is making me rethink my original position. Some linkage: Bribing Bloggers, I think the Microsoft Vista giveaway is an awesome idea, Dave Winer
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Filed under Main Page, Microsoft

A New Year… A New Beginning

December 27, 2006 1 Comment

I usually keep this blog to Linux and Open Source related topics. While somewhat related to that meme, this is also a personal announcement. As many of you know, in addition to LQ and Open Source evangelism, I have a full time job. In a move that has been a while in the making, I recently gave my notice. A big step to be sure, but one I'm really excited about. I love a challenge, and think we have a real chance to change the world with this community. That's something worth giving your all for. So, what will I be doing? No, it's not LQ full time. Not exactly. I don't want LQ to become a job. It's a passion and I like it that way. Borrowing from the words of Doc Searls, I'll be making money because of LQ, not with LQ. What does that mean? First, I'll be doing more speaking, writing, etc. I get gigs like that in no small part due to LQ. Secondly, I've started an Open Source Consulting company. I've learned a ton working with LinuxQuestions.org, Linux and Open Source for the last ten or so years – now your company can directly benefit from that. I'll even be working on an hourly bases for my previous employer. In short, you shouldn't expect LQ to become more commercialized in any way. You should expect an increase in features and improvements though, as I'll have more time to dedicate to it. I don't know where the rabbit hole ends, but I do plan on enjoying the journey. Enjoy your new year. For me, it'll be a bit of a new beginning. If you have a similar chance, I'd encourage you to seize that opportunity.
–jeremy

Filed under Linux, LinuxQuestions.org, Main Page, Open Source

Sun Releases First GPLed Java Source

December 26, 2006 Leave a comment

A quick (belated) follow up to a story I previously covered. Sun has now officially released part of Java under the GPL. phoneME, which has previously been called J2ME, is now available for download with a GPLv2 license. The supported platforms are Linux/ARM, Linux/x86 and Windows/i386. Many seemed to guess that J2SE would be released first, but I'm sure that's coming soon. Once again kudos to Sun for making the decision they did.
–jeremy
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Filed under Linux, Main Page, Open Source, Sun

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