Re: [tlug] [C&C--potentially] Heisei Emperor's support of XEmacs (was: Gentoo ebuild for XEmacs-21.5)

["emiddleton@example.com" <emiddleton@example.com>]

Nguyen Vu Hung wrote:
> I like the way how IBM joining Linux: They don't develop the Linux
> kernel in-house but keep sending their developers to the project.

IBM has made some many important contributions to the Linux kernel but I 
don't know that their actions are so much different from other corporate 
contributers.  You are aware that IBM has developed binary Linux drivers 
in the past[1].  Let me quote the reliant part.

* Proprietary Hardware*. Many aspects of the operation of mainframes are 
governed by proprietary, confidential documentation. For example, the 
interface to OSA (the network adapter) is secret. IBM has provided a 
binary (Object-Code-Only) driver for this interface, in clear violation 
of the Linux Kernel GPL. So far, no one is complaining, since a 
binary-only network interface is better than no interface at all, but 
clearly, this cannot stand as is for long.

> IIRC, IBM tops the
> corporation contribution to Linux kernel. So, when voting for something like
> adding new features, IBM does have more power than others.
>   

I think Linus tends to exercise his own judgment rather then take a 
vote.  As for top contributers the last lwn[2] report Linux contributers 
found that both in LOC and changsets the order was

Unknown    25.0% 19.0%
Red Hat    12.8% 12.8%  
None 7.7% 11.0%
IBM 7.4% 7.3%

So it is actually those nasty people at Red Hat ;) who "develop the 
Linux kernel in-house" who are making the biggest corporate 
contribution.  While IBM has made significant contributions to the Linux 
kernel I think IBM's biggest contribution was to take on SCO.

Edward

1. http://linas.org/linux/i370-bigfoot.html
2. http://lwn.net/Articles/222773/