Comment BeOS GPL'd (Score 2) 298
Here's an interesting idea: If there's a feature in BeOS that you like, why not implement it in Linux? There's nothing about Be's code that is so earth shattering that it couldn't be replicated with a little ingenuity. The problem with implementing some of Be's features in Linux, such as their unique file system, is that it would break compatibility.
Linux is still a Unix clone and has all of the benefits and shortcomings thereof. And before you get on your horse and claim "BeOS is based on Unix too!", it is not. Nor is it based on Linux, BSD or any other clone of Unix. Be did implement a Born Again Shell so BeOS could run most POSIX compliant programs. However, that's where Unix compatibility ends. BeOS was written from the ground up, including the kernel, with performance in mind. From a programming perspective (I have over 25 years experience, I might add), BeOS's API wins hands down over all other major operating systems. As for BeOS's lack of drivers and applications: Anyone with technical knowledge of the hardware can write a driver for BeOS. There is documentation on Be's Web site and many examples, BeOS and the development tools are free for the time it takes to download. If there is an application you would like to see on BeOS, by all means write it!
I personally don't think either BeOS or Linux would benefit from BeOS being GPL'd. In fact, I think that BeOS might suffer from too many ingredients in the pot. For example, if I install Red Hat using the "Gnome Workstation" option, it takes up somewhere in the neighborhood of a gigabyte of storage space. This is heinous bloat, most of which the average user (or even programmer) would never use. But trying to make heads or tails of what packages are actually needed would be impossible for the non geek.
Linux is still a Unix clone and has all of the benefits and shortcomings thereof. And before you get on your horse and claim "BeOS is based on Unix too!", it is not. Nor is it based on Linux, BSD or any other clone of Unix. Be did implement a Born Again Shell so BeOS could run most POSIX compliant programs. However, that's where Unix compatibility ends. BeOS was written from the ground up, including the kernel, with performance in mind. From a programming perspective (I have over 25 years experience, I might add), BeOS's API wins hands down over all other major operating systems. As for BeOS's lack of drivers and applications: Anyone with technical knowledge of the hardware can write a driver for BeOS. There is documentation on Be's Web site and many examples, BeOS and the development tools are free for the time it takes to download. If there is an application you would like to see on BeOS, by all means write it!
I personally don't think either BeOS or Linux would benefit from BeOS being GPL'd. In fact, I think that BeOS might suffer from too many ingredients in the pot. For example, if I install Red Hat using the "Gnome Workstation" option, it takes up somewhere in the neighborhood of a gigabyte of storage space. This is heinous bloat, most of which the average user (or even programmer) would never use. But trying to make heads or tails of what packages are actually needed would be impossible for the non geek.
