Jon “Maddog” Hall is the guy that companies like IBM and HP go to when they want to find out how to do the right thing by the Linux community. Hey, with a name like Maddog, they sure don’t want to get on his bad side…
Maddog Hall loves computers that work well. This is what prompted him to pay $99 in response to an advertisement in Dr. Dobb’s Journal back in 1994 and install his first copy of Linux — an experience he likens to playing a really fine piano. Since then, the former Digital Equipment Corporation (DEC) marketing manager has emerged as the conscience of Linux. His work as executive director of Linux International (essentially the volunteer-run marketing arm of Linux) has made him an important figure in the Linux community.
Though VA Linux Systems provides his paycheck, Maddog says his days, and most of his weekends, are spent working for LI. Maddog took some time off from LI booth duty at a recent LinuxWorld Expo to meet with Linux Magazine Publisher Adam Goodman, Executive Editor Robert McMillan, and Reviews Editor Lou Grinzo.
LinuxMagazine:One of your jobs at Linux International is to act as a watchdog for potential threats to Linux. What dangers are you focused most closely on right now?
Maddog: Right now I am very concerned about some of the larger companies who are coming into the Linux space. Their upper management kind of understands Linux — maybe they have one or two managers who really understand it…
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