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Google Open Source

Google Doubles Down on Linux and Open Source (zdnet.com) 162

Posted by msmash from the how-about-that dept.
Steven J. Vaughan-Nichols, writing for ZDNet: Google couldn't exist without Linux and open-source software. While you may not think of Google as a Linux company in the same way as you do Canonical, Red Hat, or SUSE, it wouldn't be the search and advertising giant it is today without Linux. So, it makes sense that Google is moving up from its Silver membership in The Linux Foundation, to the Platinum level. With this jump in status, Google gets a seat on the Foundation's board of directors. This position will be filled by Sarah Novotny, the head of open source strategy for Google Cloud Platform. Earlier this week, Chinese tech giant Tencent joined the Linux Foundation as a platinum member.
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Google Doubles Down on Linux and Open Source More

Google Doubles Down on Linux and Open Source

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  • Microsoft (Score:5, Interesting)

    by darkain ( 749283 ) on Wednesday June 27, 2018 @03:33PM (#56855442) Homepage

    Why do I get the feeling this is less about Google doubling-down on Open Source / Linux, and has more to do with the fact they don't want to be out-done by Microsoft, who is already a Platinum level member. This is just more of a corporate pissing contest.

    • Re:Microsoft (Score:5, Insightful)

      by jellomizer ( 103300 ) on Wednesday June 27, 2018 @03:42PM (#56855516)

      That and if you have millions/billions of dollars invested in a Linux Infrastructure. Do you really want your competitors make decisions on what direction the product takes?

      • It's open source. If they really don't like it, they can always fork it. I will admit it's a brilliant idea on the part of the Linux Foundation to get more Platinum members and more money.

        • Linux foundation pays Linus's salary and they pay for the parties. Otherwise, they are a just a bunch of circle jerking wankers as you would expect.

        • Forking isn't always a viable solution. Lets say you fork a solution, because you need a particular feature. The application isn't static, time changes and the main line app gets a lot of good features also, which you will need to incorporate in yours. It is easier to push for that particular feature then having a separate code base to be maintained.

        • Linux development is free. Some people have to earn a living and the living that they earn is writing Linux internals code. It also takes a large number of eyes to review new Linux code. It takes a large number of eyes to see how the coat integrates into the kernel. And it takes a lot of money to host all those competing distributions. I'm extremely grateful for the Platinum members and their financial contributions.

    • Re:Microsoft (Score:5, Interesting)

      by Cassini2 ( 956052 ) on Wednesday June 27, 2018 @03:46PM (#56855538)

      If you are Google it pays to purchase some cheap insurance against Microsoft doing something that could screw you.

      Once you get to Google, Microsoft, Apple size, then you need people on all the key committees. These people purchase connections and goodwill. When an important decision comes up, you have the connections and goodwill to ensure it goes your way.

      • If you are Google it pays to purchase some cheap insurance against Microsoft doing something that could screw you.

        What could they do? Actually more to the point why would they do it? Microsoft and Google both use Linux to run critical parts of their cloud infrastructure which is one of the biggest and most profitable parts of their respective businesses. Anybody thinking Microsoft has any interest in destroying Linux needs to get with the times and stop living in the early Ballmer-era of Microsoft.

        These days there is very little overlap between Windows and Linux, they simply aren't competitors in the vast majority of s

        • Microsoft and Google both use Linux to run critical parts of their cloud infrastructure which is one of the biggest and most profitable parts of their respective businesses.

          For Microsoft, they also have a huge fraction of their Azure customers wanting to run Linux vms, not Windows.

          Anybody thinking Microsoft has any interest in destroying Linux needs to get with the times

          Don't kid yourself, Microsoft would still love to destroy Linux and rule the world. But they already tried their hardest and failed hard. Now they are trying the next best thing. If they ever perceive an opportune moment to strike again, they will.

          These days there is very little overlap between Windows and Linux, they simply aren't competitors in the vast majority of spaces that they are used.

          That is completely wrong as any idiot can see. Microsoft would love to own the webserver, data center, HPC and embedded spaces that Linux rules, don't kid

          • That is completely wrong as any idiot can see. Microsoft would love to own the webserver, data center, HPC and embedded spaces that Linux rules, don't kid yourself.

            What company wouldn't love that? Fact is they don't and they really can't, they gave up on trying to compete in markets that they clearly can't compete with Linux in and instead are leveraging Linux as a tool to run their business just like everybody else. Destroying Linux makes no sense and in fact even when Ballmer famously said 'Linux is a cancer' quite clearly he wasn't even referring to Linux at all but the viral nature of the GPL, not to mention at the time quite a lot (though less than what they have

    • Re:Microsoft (Score:5, Insightful)

      by geekmux ( 1040042 ) on Wednesday June 27, 2018 @03:49PM (#56855560)

      Why do I get the feeling this is less about Google doubling-down on Open Source / Linux, and has more to do with the fact they don't want to be out-done by Microsoft, who is already a Platinum level member. This is just more of a corporate pissing contest.

      Google couldn't exist without Linux and open-source software...

      Uh, given this fact, Google should have recognized the relationship and upped their membership (and contributions) long ago. Cheap bastards.

      • Google should have recognized the relationship and upped their membership (and contributions) long ago. Cheap bastards.

        You didn't know that about Google until now? Welcome to the land of the enlightened.

    • Re: (Score:3, Insightful)

      by Tough Love ( 215404 )

      At the same time, it is pathetic that Google was not at the highest level of membership already. See, there is a significant faction [google.com] at Google that hates Linux and everything GPL. This faction has largely had the upper hand so far because of apathy in the executive suite. The usual theory "we are so rich so everything we do must be right". Including treating Linux as a second class citizen in favour of their BSD stable. Now they are forced by Microsoft to take a position. Ironic indeed.

    • Without discounting contributions of Google to linux, I am concerned about presence of these mega-corporations in such influential positions within Linux Foundation and open source world in general. Somehow, it feels more likely that linux will be driven in a direction more favorable to corporations than the community in general. Android and Chromium browser are perfect examples... even though they are open source, they are heavily focused on serving Googles best interest as opposed to core principles of op

      • I am concerned about presence of these mega-corporations in such influential positions within Linux Foundation and open source world in general.

        Linux Foundation is not influential in the Linux world, they just provide the party fund. Otherwise they are widely regarded as a bunch of ineffectual, self important PHBs. If Jim Zemlin ever worked up the spit to try to tell Linus what to do, Linus would instead tell him what to do in very clear terms and Zemlin would just have to say, thanks Linus, I needed that.

    • Re: (Score:2)

      by jrumney ( 197329 )
      True, but in this case, Google is responsible for a large proportion of the software installed on devices using the Linux kernel. But it seems they don't acknowledge that, and are putting their cloud team in charge of the Linux relationship rather than their Android team.

      • Google is responsible for a large proportion of the software installed on devices using the Linux kernel. But it seems they don't acknowledge that...

        You only just now realized that Google guys are intellectually dishonest?

    • You're right to suggest this is a direct consequence, but is more like to be insurance for Google to stop Microsoft screwing them over decisions.

      The rest of use might as well walk on by, the idea of open source being about communities is long gone.

  • I'll believe it when... (Score:5, Interesting)

    by sremick ( 91371 ) on Wednesday June 27, 2018 @03:41PM (#56855506)

    ...we finally get a Linux client for Google Drive.

    • Re: (Score:2, Informative)

      by Anonymous Coward

      It exists! Sort of. With Ubuntu: Settings > Accounts

    • Re:I'll believe it when... (Score:5, Insightful)

      by jon3k ( 691256 ) on Wednesday June 27, 2018 @04:43PM (#56855892)
      It's such a massive, glaring omission it's kind of mind boggling. They have a Google Music Manager client for linux for christ's sake. I realize linux users are a rounding error and writing client software costs a lot of money, but we're talking key users. That's a lot of developers you'd ideally want in your ecosystem. But I'm sure Google knows more about this than I do and they've made the decision to omit linux for a reason.

      • Disagree; Linux and *cough* BSD "key users" know better than to use Google drive; we have our own servers, thanks...
        We don't use Gmail either...

    • Not trolling-

      Are the existing Fuse/KDE/Gnome VFS plugins not what you'd like to see?
    • Not free but there exists a 3:d party client that I use myself: https://www.thefanclub.co.za/o... [thefanclub.co.za]

    • ...we finally get a Linux client for Google Drive.

      Why? Dolphin and other clients can interact with it, wrapping all your file needs into 1 app without the need for more apps to be open. I can access Google drive, dropbox, mega and other SSH locations all from one app.

      • Why?

        Because people what a tool that will work no matter how they are accessing the files: Dolphin, Konsole, ssh session, whatever. And they want to access them offline. And they want to include the files in system backups.

  • I'm trying to find a consistent number for ChromeOS in terms of new PC sales - trying to research the number, it ranges from 80% to 300% of Linux installs according to different sources. Obviously, ChromeOS is not used in servers but I suspect that it is the largest distribution of the Linux kernel in new PC (primarily laptop) sales.

    Chromium and ChromeOS are "based on Linux" and use a pretty big piece of the code base - this along with the footprint they have would make them a major player in the Linux world and it would be appropriate for Google to have a seat at the Linux table.

    • Well, it *is* Linux, in that it uses the Linux kernel.
      Its userspace is also very similar to a busybox userspace (actually uses toolbox, which is their own version of busybox) which is pretty similar to GNU...
      I have no problem calling ChromeOS Linux. I'm also completely sure that you're correct that only a tiny fraction of new non-server PC sales come with a flavor of Linux that isn't ChromeOS.

      • Re: (Score:3)

        by dwpro ( 520418 )
        Thre's value in having mindshare, but I think the open source community should be careful about how much it embraces/affiliates itself with a walled garden approach to an OS, even if it significantly incorporates the linux kernel. Hell, windows 10 runs a 'linux subsystem' now. Most users on android phones have no root access to their systems and have a myriad of corporate entities tracking and controling their every move with applications they can't uninstall, which seems very much unlike what I perceive
        • I don't disagree with your assertion that there's value in having mindshare... and I share your dislike of locked down systems.
          I wouldn't say open source is embracing locked down systems, but the success of those systems is also an advertisement for open source.
          I think Linux benefits from the WSL. It increases mindshare, and increases use of the GNU/Linux ecosystem, particularly for developers who are using Windows. It could be their preparatory course for making the switch.
          ChromeOS is an actively suppor

      • I'm also completely sure that you're correct that only a tiny fraction of new non-server PC sales come with a flavor of Linux that isn't ChromeOS.

        A tiny fraction, but still large in absolute numbers, and rapidly growing. For example, check this out. [acer.com]

        • and rapidly growing

          It sure is, and I have monetarily supported their experiment, and will continue to do so.
          I wasn't aware the Aspire line now had officially supported linux models- that's awesome. What I'd really like to see though are some ultra-light Linux celeron laptops with silly battery life. I'm currently using a ChomeBook that's been converted to running Kubuntu natively, and I've absolutely fallen in love with it. All it needs is a real keyboard. This Bay Trail Celeron may be pretty gutless, but it gets the job don

    • I'm trying to find a consistent number for ChromeOS in terms of new PC sales...

      One data point: ChromeOS is now over 60% of US K12 sales. Microsoft is a distant second and Apple has been squeezed to oblivion.

  • dumping the linux kernel on Android (Score:2, Insightful)

    by Anonymous Coward

    And scaling back ChromeOS product developement.

    Yea, I don't understand how that's increasing the support for Linux.

    I'd describe it as lining the pockets of The Linux Foundation and installing an insider that can steer Linux towards what Google wants, which apparently includes the destruction of Linux. (see above)

    in short - Google and The Linux Foundation are full of shit.

  • Google couldn't exist without Linux and open-source software.

    I'm sure they could do just fine using BSD.

    • Google couldn't exist without Linux and open-source software.

      I'm sure they could do just fine using BSD.

      Haha, you really know how to tell 'em, will you be here all night?

  • Since 2015 the metal platinum is significantly cheaper than gold. It is a broken metaphor, right at the top foundation, so no wonder that the Linux OS, at least the desktop, is also kind of broken.

    • Re:Platinum is actually cheaper than gold since 20 (Score:5, Insightful)

      by DamnOregonian ( 963763 ) on Wednesday June 27, 2018 @05:49PM (#56856232)
      Linux on the desktop is fucking wonderful. It's just not very user-friendly, and so doesn't appeal to a large audience.
      I can't imagine having my primary desktop being anything else anymore, after years of using Windows and MacOS.
      I of course acknowledge that that is an opinion, and inherently worthless- much like your post.

      • Re:Platinum is actually cheaper than gold since 20 (Score:5, Informative)

        by Harlequin80 ( 1671040 ) on Wednesday June 27, 2018 @06:42PM (#56856412)

        Not even sure I would agree with the not user friendly. Something like Linux Mint is a lot more user friendly than Windows 10. I spend 95% of my desktop time on a linux machine, but still have to fire up windows for certain software packages.

        Fusion360, Photoshop and a decent video editor. Those are why I find myself firing up windows. (not to mention games but I haven't played in ages anyway)

        • Ya, I think I was trying to be conciliatory or something. When you get right down to it, there's nothing less esoteric about the incantations you have to pump into Windows' pathetic excuse for a terminal when something on it doesn't work right, and most of the time, you can actually fix something that isn't working right with your popular Linux DE, while in Windows you're forced to suffer a million 'might work' measures because nobody actually really understands wtf the Windows Update agent actually does.

      • Re: (Score:1)

        by Anonymous Coward

        windows isn't user friendly either, that is the worst of it all, how this myth is still standing today is a mistery to me.

  • Does anyone else get goose-bumps, and expect a really bad copyrights/patent showdown within the next few years with all those traditionally perceived as utterly EVIL companies (IBM, for years, collaborators in WW2, Microsoft, embrace and extinguish, 'FOSS is a Cancer', and now Google, your favourite brainwashing I mean hearts and minds company 'BE EVIL', now apparently bowing at the Altar of Torvalds), showing their treacherous cards? Personally, I don't trust any of them, in any context. I wish for all thr

    • Finally time to go HURD, anyone?

      I just installed Debian/HURD on a VM 2 evenings ago to see how it was coming along...

      Let me answer that question for you: No.

    • It's been decades and HURD isn't even remotely usable. In a shorter time than that Apple has gone from the brink of bankruptcy to the most valuable company in the world, Microsoft has moved from a company with a CEO that called Linux (or rather the GPL) a cancer to one that's most profitable business segment depends on Linux and even has a Linux compatibility layer in Windows, Google completely dominating search, Amazon going from just online shopping to a cloud computing giant that relies on Linux and Linu

  • Open Source software gets paid for by tracking users and selling their information to advertisers.

    • Open Source software gets paid for by tracking users and selling their information to advertisers.

      Google pays roughly fuck all into the Linux community. Employs a few kernel hackers, mostly for its own hacked production kernel but a couple just doing whatever they want like Andrew Morton and Ted Tys'o. Other much smaller companies put a lot more money into the community, and are correspondingly more respected.

  • Google couldn't exist without Linux

    False. BSD or even Windows Server would have been a sufficient platform to develop the Google server infrastructure.

    Less efficient, perhaps, but hardly impossible.

  • If something is so important that you feel the need to post it on the internet... It probably isn't that important. Do you really want your competitors to make decisions on what direction the product takes?

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