What's Fedora Up To? Ask the Project Leader

Fedora Project Leader Max Spevack offered himself up for this interview because, he said, "I look at stories like [your] posting Ubuntu to Bring About Red Hat's Demise and many of the comments about Red Hat and Fedora seem very rooted in the world of several years ago, when the RHEL/Fedora split took place." This is a chance to clear the air, and get an up-to-date look at what Fedora is up to these days. So ask away; we'll send 10 of the highest-moderated questions to Max and (hopefully) publish his answers later this week.

Drivers Vs Linux

[eldavojohn]

A lot of people I talk to say they don't like Linux due to lack of driver support [wieers.com]. Is there anyway you see this problem being eliminated? How do you court vendors to support their hardware on your flavor of Linux?

What's changed?

[KDan]

You mention that opinions are rooted in the world of 5 years ago. What do you think has changed in the linux world since then, and how does it affect Fedora development?

Daniel

Worst Aspect of Fedora?

[eldavojohn]

On the Fedora Project website, there are plenty of reasons listed for Fedora to be your operating system of choice. In your eyes, what is the most lacking aspect of Fedora as it exists today?

Vista a Problem?

[eldavojohn]

Do you view Vista as a threat to your user base? Do you or people on your team ever change your mind about things or let looming Vista influence your decisions?

I'm hoping that Linux distros are not pressured into adding unneeded bells and whistles in a desperate attempt to compete with Vista. Are you invulnerable from this mentality?

Linux presence

[OldeTimeGeek]

Linux adoption has been growing, but very slowly. Why do you think that this is the case? What are, in your point of view, the roadblocks to Linux becoming a serious contender for the desktop at home and in the corporate enviroment and how do you plan to address them?

What is Fedora's Comparative Advantage?

[tabdelgawad]

Do you see Fedora Core as targeted at a particular type of Linux user (developers, server admins, desktop users, multimedia, etc) or are you trying to be all things to all people? Stated another way, what do you see as FC's main (current and future) strengths and weakneses compared to other distros?

Have you tried Ubuntu?

[Anonymous Coward]

Have you tried Ubuntu yourself? Is there, in your opinion, something Ubuntu does better than Fedora?

Re:Why such a divide?

[eipgam]

What makes you think a single package manager is necessarily a good thing? Shouldn't users get a choice?

NTFS support in Fedora/RedHat.

[Anonymous Coward]

If Fedora is actually not controlled by Red Hat anymore, and Fedora is user-oriented, why are both the only general-purpose GNU/Linux distributions that disable the NTFS driver from the Linux kernel?

Users do need this option (unlike RedHat's customers, which are organizations as far as I know), and for evidence, Linux-NTFS is one of the projects with the most downloads on sourceforge.

I would like to add that NTFS is part of the mainline kernel. Compiling it as a module will cause it to not take any memory resources other than the few kilobytes on disk that any un-used hardware module is taking, unless of course the user has a mounted NTFS partition.

RedHat's reason for disabling NTFS support was that RedHat is a US-based organization and that they fear patenting problems from MS. No law action was ever taken, and no actual patent was referenced. As far as I know, NTFS is not even patented or patentable. Fedora is not RedHat as you say, so this old reasoning is not exactly valid for Fedora. The IBM/SCO saga also cleared the issue about patents in the mainline kernel.

Unless Fedora will change this simple flag in the kernel config file, I assume it is still controlled (and not only sponsered as some would say) by RedHat.

Distro Improvement

[utopianfiat]

It seems to me that the general consensus among users when FC was released wavered around "It's redhat minus the money behind it", what improvements in package management, distro consistency (path standardization), and configuration systems do you forsee preventing FC from becoming what some have called "The most craptacular peice of shit since Caldera OpenLinux"?

Home recording/music production

[Bruitist]

I use Planet CCRMA [stanford.edu] components with Fedora Core 5 and this seems to bring me very close to rivalling what I could do with a Mac running Pro Tools, etc. Any plans to integrate these ideas into the main Fedora package, such as the ability to choose "music" or "recording" on initial install the same way you can choose "home", "office", etc?

Or, really, any plans for any other speciallising options?

Fedora

[modernbob]

I have been using Fedora since version 2 (or) since support ran out on RH9. It's been getting better with each version and the number of applications there are packages for have increased dramatically. I am using version FC5 now and using it in a production environment on several servers. I continue to read that RH/Fedora doesn't support the idea of using FC for a production environment. Is this true and if so what exactly is FC's charter? I mean what exactly is the purpose of the FC project? What do you envision your users are going to do with FC? Are you thinking about end user at all? Where do you see FC in 5 years? Thanks Robert W. Oldfield

Directory Server

[IMightB]

Hi, I've been using Fedora Directory Server for quite a while, and it is a fantastic product. I read some rumours that it would be Integrated with FC5, but sadly it was not. When can we expect this to be a standard feature/integrated with authentication and other areas in Fedora? Thanks, Brian

.rpms and the LSB

[MMC Monster]

While the Linux Standard Base advocates the use of .rpm packages, what steps are you using to help other distributions use .rpm packages? What are your thoughts about setting up "universal" repositories that are accessible from different distribution architectures? (A single repo that can be used by suse, redhat, and debian systems). What are you doing to go towards that goal?

A slightly different take.

[khasim]

What do you view as Red Hat's advantage over Ubuntu that Ubuntu will not be able to easily/quickly replicate?

filesystem support

[QuesarVII]

Why is ext3 still the only filesystem available during installation? Practically every other distro is using reiserfs by default, and allowing whichever one you choose. Why does Fedora only permit ext3?

Dependency hell

[Tet]

The introduction of yum has vastly improved the user experience when installing software, or updating existing packages. However, it's brought with it a new kind of dependency hell. For example, if I want to install a PostScript previewer:

% yum install evince
[...]
Installing:
evince x86_64 0.5.1-3 core 773 k
Installing for dependencies:
nautilus x86_64 2.14.1-1.fc5.1 updates-released 3.9 M
nautilus-cd-burner x86_64 2.14.2-1 updates-released 414 k

That's clearly wrong. I only want to install a PostScript previewer. Doing so should not require a filemanager (which I don't need or want), and certainly not a CD burner. But these are added as dependencies due to the clumsy packaging that seems to be increasingly prevalent in Fedora. Perhaps (and I remain unconvinced) there's some aspect of evince that can make use of nautilus being present. But if so, I haven't seen it. I could well believe that nautilus could make use of evince, but not really the other way around. But assume for the sake of argument that it can use nautilus. That still isn't a reason to have it depend on it. Dependencies should be packages that are required in order for another to run, not packages that will merely enable additional functionality. In this case -- the prime function of evince is to view documents, which isn't significantly enhanced by having a file browser present.

Fedora is still my distribution of choice, but it's becoming increasingly hard to use for those of us that prefer to run with a minimal system due to the way that the dependencies have been getting out of hand. Are there any plans to fix this, or is any work already underway to do so? I understand that some consideration has been given to providing "soft dependencies" within RPM (like dpkg's suggested dependencies), which would help. Is there a timeframe for this? Is anything else being done?

I quite understand the focus on getting the system to be usable for the average unskilled user. But the impression I'm getting is that it's being done at the expense of letting those of us that know what we're doing do what we want. Does Fedora have a position on the type of users it's aiming for, or is it still trying to be a general purpose OS?

WIFI

[nitsew]

After all these years, the huge improvements to Linux in general, why is it still so hard to get an off the shelf PCI wireless card going? Are you guys making any improvements there?

What's the diffference?

[$RANDOMLUSER]

What differentiates Fedora from all the other Linux distros? Who's your target demographic?

Live CD?

[niceone]

Any plans for a live CD? I'm a long time RH user who switched to Ubuntu after a tried a live CD and found all the hardware on my laptop worked out of the box (even Windows didn't manage that). I guess there are a few live CD's based on Fedora, but that's not really the same as having one official one.

Second question: I have a bunch of RH stock... sell or hold?

Mac OS X a Problem?

[The_DoubleU]

Same question as above but replace Vista with Mac OS X.

Re:Worst Aspect of Fedora?

[Doug Dante]

How can we get MP-3 and MPEG support included with Fedora on download?

mass end user appeal

[0xABADC0DA]

I have a suggestion instead. Red Hat should want Fedora to be a runaway hit like Firefox, not just another linux disto. Firefox is a hit because in addition to having features users want, it is easy to install, simple, and cool. My suggestion is for Red Hat to create a distribution that runs easily on Windows. As in click the button and it runs. Here's how you can do it:

1) A pre-built image file on C:\ that will be the linux hard drive.
2) A .exe program that loads a windows driver that syncs the disks and replaces the NT kernel with Linux kernel.
3) When run, this kernel boots off the image on NTFS.

I know this can be done with existing technology (or at least the hard parts are already working). The NTFS driver can write to an existing file if the size does not change. Linux kernel can init on an already powered up machine and reset the hardware. I know Red Hat does a lot of kernel work and other developement, so I know you guys capable of doing this very quickly.

This gives the vast majority of users a way to download linux like any other program, run it without rebooting into some scary 'repartition' software, and still get the full benefit and experience of linux. In fact, immediately after downloading they just click the program and say "Yes" to "Shutdown Windows and start Linux?" and 20 seconds later they are in a Fedora core system. If they like it, they can install a normal Fedora directly onto the system. If they don't like it, just delete the image file.

My question is, will you at least consider doing this? Something like this would be huge for linux adoption and therefore Red Hat mindshare.

Most Valuable Feature

[Anonymous Coward]

The number one feature I hear lauded in Ubuntu is, "It just works. It recognized all my hardware and it all just worked."

I'm keen to try the latest 3-D desktop, and it would be great if mythtv were included in Fedora. But the number one most valuable feature is still working hardware.

For example, Lexmark publishes their Linux Driver Development Kit, but no actual Linux drivers. Fedora doesn't have a driver for my Lexmark printer. That's not necessarily the fault of the Fedora team. But there are issues here that could be addressed by all linux distros.

What can be done to make it easier and more attractive for hardware manufacturers to provide native linux drivers? (I.e., why is it so hard for the manufacturers to do this themselves? What can be done to make it easier?) Also, what can be done so that a working Gentoo or Ubuntu driver means a working Fedora driver, and vise-versa?

And finally, how much effort is consumed banging away on every oddball piece of hardware out there to get them supported, versus the effort spent to squeeze in the latest new gee-wiz app?

An argument for a stable Fedora

[jmorris42]

I suspect the major reason the word "Ubuntu" is on everyone's lips these days is they are the last piece in a complete stack. Debian has always had the hearts and minds of a lot of serious developers but had a justified reputation as 'not for mortals.' Ubuntu completed the sequence. Unstable is where the developers live, Testing is where it settles down, Stable is for servers and now Ubuntu gives access to end users and desktop deployments. Especially with the LTS series the Debian world now offers a total end to end solution.

Compare to RedHat's stack. Rawhide maps to unstable, only less stable. More accurate would be the Fedora Test releases compare to Unstable. Fedora roughly maps to Testing and RHEL to Stable except it is only available bundled with a service contract. It is probably safe to say few developers develop on rawhide, from what I see on the mailing lists at least, most appear to use Fedora and add some packages from Rawhide/Dag/livna/etc. For the corporate world RHEL is worth every penny, as the RedHat financial statements attest. But you guys don't have anything to offer in the vast space between the deveopers and the major site installs.

When you dropped RHL I grabbed the RHEL source and started White Box, since joined by at least three more rebuild projects. However a new user understands none of that, only seeing Red Hat's offerings, which has nothing for them. They see Fedora Core, which has an expiration date not much longer than milk. Installing a new OS is traumatic enough, the thought of being forced to do it twice a year is right out, especially if they actually do it once and fight the war to get a working system. (drivers, media support, etc) And if they do invest the time to learn linux the Fedora way, unless they work at a site that is a candidate for RHEL there isn't any place to use that knowledge in the real world. Hint: Most of the Linux machines in production use aren't candidates for RHEL. Try selling management on a RHEL support contract that costs more ANNUALLY than an NT license for a file/print server. Critical web server, yes. Oracle server, no problem. But most places start smaller.

Compare to Ubuntu. Most users DO know Ubuntu is Debian based. But unlike Debian, Ubuntu compromised Free Software principles enough to make it fairly easy to get a working machine. So a new user can get going fairly easy and they aren't told they MUST upgrade annually, semi-annually preferred. And once they learn, Ubuntu LTS can be used for real work and it is only a small hop to Debian for a server or Sid to participate in development.

Fedora for Non-Desktops

[unPlugged-2.0]

I noticed that you have broken out the Server and Desktop into CentOS and Fedora.

What are your plans for the future? Where does Fedora plan to live and how can people go from Fedora into CentOS or RHEL like you will be able to with Ubuntu?

Also are there any Fedora initiatives for Mobile Devices? Any kind of WinCE alternative planned? You would be the best to do it as you are also involved in the OLPC project.

Thanks

playing nice with closed source

[pulse2600]

Many people say that Linux in general will never make it to "the next level" (whatever that may mean) because the community wishes to keep Linux fully open. It is difficult to make something on the hardware level fully Linux compatiable without re-using GPLed code. This means hardware/software vendors would need to open their code on their associated drivers/software to legally make their product fully Linux compatiable. Closed source vendors see opening their code as a major threat to their business, as the openness could reveal intellectual property that their competitors could exploit to take away market share. Do you see any way that a happy medium could be reached with vendors that require their source to be closed?

evince is not just a "PostScript previewer".

[Anonymous Coward]

The problem isn't with their packaging system in any way. The problem is with evince; due to its bloated nature and attempt to be a viewer for every type of image file imaginable, it does in fact depend on Nautilus and other packages that would appear to be unrelated. Basically, Red Hat has no choice but to offer such dependencies, as that is what the software demands.

If you want only a PDF or PS viewer, then try something like Ghostscript/GSView, or xpdf. Even the display program of ImageMagick might be suitable for your needs. Unlike evince (and much other GNOME software), those programs follow the UNIX tradition of doing one task, and doing that one task well.

Driver issues

[gr8_phk]

Fedora Core 4 shipped with a broken pwc driver. OK fine, there was a lot of controversy about the open source driver at the time. Fedora 5 again shipped with a broken pwc driver even though currently shipping kernels come with the new one. When I say "broken" I don't mean that it's lacking the part that used to be proprietary, I mean it just doens't work. FC5 also shipped with a broken kernel because someone applied a late patch that IMHO really didn't belong in there. The kernel didn't work with nVidia drivers (and others) and some blamed the drivers when in fact it was a Fedora specific patch that caused the breakage. It took several releases of kernel before everyone seemed happy (other stuff broke with each release). The policy on other packages is that all work should be done upstream, yet Fedora seems to be letting a few guys fiddle around with the kernel and drivers at will. Having to update a fresh install to make it work right is unacceptable.

So the questions: What is Fedora doing to improve the quality of the kernels and drivers? What is the purpose of all the tweaking? Some folks use stock kernels with Fedora, why all the messing around?

RHEL vs RH9 vs FC3-5

[stry_cat]

What kind of danger do you see in RHEL clones to FC's market? I use RHEL at work and it is by far the best OS I've ever seen. At home I use FC and in spite of your claims it just doesn't measure up. I've started looking into whitebox and CentOS for home use. What are the reasons why I should stay with FC and not switch to a RHEL clone? Also what is being done to make FC more stable, robust, and feature-rich like RHEL?

 

Re:Dependency hell

[cdep_illabout]

I agree. I prefer Gentoo and FBSD to Unbuntu and FC because you can choose what parts of the program you want to enable at compile time. Unfortunately, there is compile time.

Comment removed

[account_deleted]

Comment removed based on user account deletion

Simplified Installation

[homey of my owney]

I'm a technical user of RetHat since v5 and Fedora since Core 1. While the install process suits my needs, has any thought been given to:

• Grouping packages by functional use (but not as course a grouping as the old RH install)
• Listing packages in organization categories much the same as SourceForge
• Libraries only visible in an 'expert' mode
• Packages dynamically select libraries needed

Since the vast majority of desktop installs are users - not writers of the technology, this or a similar way of extracting the minutiae, will make a killer distribution and a formidable Windows competitor.

Re:Simple Buy Supported Hardware

[FinchWorld]

Thats all fine and dandy but...

1) Finding out if hardware works with linux is not so simple, many (in the UK) don't have any indication they will work on anything but windows, so you have to search the net to see if its supported, and it might not be officially (Insert Wifi card model here).

2) Some hardware that is supported is so badly supported it might as well not be. ATI cards are like this, I hear Nvidea are easier to setup but are still suck-tackular.

3) Not everyone builds there own computer, joe average goes to PC World and buys the nice black with with lots of mega-giga-hurtz. He doesn't know whats in it. Granted thats more towards the desktop market and not so much for servers.

4) And why, by choosing linux, should I cut myself off from whatever percent of hardware out there just to use Linux? I agree with Linux's ideals, compared to Microsofts, but Microsofts solution works for me (Well, re-install every 6 months, but my hardware works:P). Only Linuc use I have is a server on an old computer, thankfully everything worked out of the box with DSL.

Re:I'd consider this a Real Problem...

[rmdir -r *]

Users are forever complaining about a lack of drivers, but the drivers they are often presented with are a very small subset of the Open Source drivers that exist. Is this a problem Fedora will be addressing, or will it be largely left to such drivers being absorbed into the mainstream kernel?

On that note, are you considering employing/persuading developers to develop clean-room reimplementations of closed source drivers, ala OpenBSD? If not, why not?

Encrypted Root?

[ZWI]

Given how far crypto has evolved in 5 years and how important encrypting the data on a laptop (or any computer for that matter) has become, what (if anything), are you doing to make this easy or even feasable?

The new AMD

[It's a thing]

Perhaps the AMD-ATI merger could result in free drivers from ATI.