Re: Linux on the desktop - it's come a long way, but is it there yet?

["Jarod Wilson" <user=74@nabble.blu.org>]

 On Wed, 2008-07-16 at 07:35 -0400, Jerry Feldman wrote: 
> On Tue, 15 Jul 2008 21:19:35 -0400 
> Jarod Wilson <[hidden email]> wrote: 
> 
> > On Tue, 2008-07-15 at 18:00 -0400, Ruben Safir wrote: 
> > > On Tue, Jul 15, 2008 at 12:07:11PM -0400, Jarod Wilson wrote: 
> > > > On Tue, 2008-07-15 at 11:05 -0400, Mark J. Dulcey wrote: 
> > > > > Jarod Wilson wrote: 
> > > > > > 
> > > > > > Ubuntu is unusual in other ways too. 
> > > > > > 
> > > > > > http://cycle-gap.blogspot.com/2008/07/linux-kernel-development-stats-from.html
> > > > > > 
> > > > > > Note the part towards the end where Greg KH mentions Canonical's 
> > > > > > contributions to the kernel. 
> > > > > 
> > > > > I'd have to see whether Canonical is contributing to other open-source 
> > > > > projects before reaching the conclusion that Greg reaches. It's possible 
> > > > > that they are more active in non-kernel projects. Kernel development 
> > > > > isn't the only way to participate in Linux. It's not really surprising 
> > > > > that a distribution where the major focus is UI polish and smoothness 
> > > > > would not be heavily focused on kernel work. 
> > > > > 
> > > > > It's also possible that they send their contributions upstream to Debian 
> > > > > rather than directly to the kernel developers, thus their work is 
> > > > > attributed to Debian developers rather than to Canonical. 
> > > > > 
> > > > > All that said, it's possible that Canonical really isn't being a good 
> > > > > community player. But I think that the jury is still out. 
> > > > 
> > > > Should have been clear that I was speaking solely from the kernel 
> > > > standpoint, I really have no clue what they do in other areas as far as 
> > > > upstream contributions. However, I do have insider knowledge[*] that 
> > > > they do NOT send kernel contributions upstream to Debian or anyone else. 
> > > > Canonical's "fixes" and "enhancements" are more or less considered 
> > > > "secret sauce" and a competitive advantage. 
> > > 
> > > That is a violation of the GPL 
> > 
> > No, its not. It violates the *spirit* of the GPL, but not the letter, 
> > because the source is all readily available. They just don't do anything 
> > to actively push the patches into the upstream kernel. 
> 
> Good discussion. I was not aware that Canonical did not push any 
> patches upstream like the other distros do.  From a positive 
> standpoint, they are helping Linux spread on the desktop. Does 
> Canonical provide any financial support to the community?