It is easy to question a company’s commitment to a new technology, especially when there is much confusion and competition. But anyone sniping at IBM’s motives when it comes to Linux is way off the mark. Sure, I’ve heard the criticisms. Some say IBM is backing Linux as a last-gasp attempt to fight Microsoft, and others claim that our Linux programs are just a ploy to sell AIX as a follow-on product. Then there’s the perennial gripe, “IBM is going to throw its weight around and completely botch up Linux.”
It is easy to question a company’s commitment to a new technology, especially when there is much confusion and competition. But anyone sniping at IBM’s motives when it comes to Linux is way off the mark. Sure, I’ve heard the criticisms. Some say IBM is backing Linux as a last-gasp attempt to fight Microsoft, and others claim that our Linux programs are just a ploy to sell AIX as a follow-on product. Then there’s the perennial gripe, “IBM is going to throw its weight around and completely botch up Linux.”
I have heard these views many times since IBM’s “coming out” party at LinuxWorld last March, where we actually demonstrated our commitment to Linux and open source during the show. And I have to say that it troubles me that months after this grassroots demonstration and numerous other tangible actions we have taken, IBM’s commitment to Linux and open source can still be doubted.
LinuxWorld was fun, and it was an example of the different tack that IBM is taking with Linux. At the show, some Netfinity developers began playing with the hardware at our booth to create an “open source supercomputer” capable of matching the performance of a Cray. Working at night, for fun, they strung…
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