SCO vs Novell

In 2003 a legal fight came to the forefront between the SCO Group and Novell. SCO sought to gain licensing fees from Linux users. They claimed that a deal their predecessor, the Santa Cruz Operation, had made with Novell entitled them to Unix and therefore it was their legal right to collect fees from all Unix, including Linux, users.

Novell responded by revealing an amendment they had made to the purchase agreement with SCO which revealed that it was still the legal owner of Linux. They also announced they would compensate and protect all Linux users against the claims made my SCO.

Finally in 2004 SCO filed a lawsuit with a Utah State court. Novell soon followed with their own counter suit and sought damages in excess of SCO's net worth.

In 2006, Novell presented evidence that supported their claim that they were in fact the legal owners of Unix. The judge agreed and even awarded them a judgement that said SCO owed them over 2 million dollars.

Even though SCO won a partial appeal, in the end Novell came out as the winner and the legal owner of Unix. SCO even had to file for bankruptcy but not before they had to pay out to Novell.

Donate to Get Rover to the Moon

The Google Lunar X Prize is offering $20 million dollars for the first team to land a data-transmitting rover on the moon.

Most of the teams are sponsored by or work for big corporations that can afford to put a lot of money behind their projects. However Team FredNet is a taking a different approach, they're using the same open-source style that has worked so well with Linux. Their asking for people with different backgrounds to use their skills and submit their ideas so together they can win this great prize.

I think this is a great idea. Everyone enjoys rooting for the little guy to take out the bully and this contest is a great tool to do that. There are many talented individuals from different place and ages that all dream about landing in space. Well the next best thing is to be part of a team that gets their project to the moon. And the prize money isn't bad either.

So for all you space enthusiasts or just anybody who likes a good David vs Goliath story we're asking for you donations or help so we can win the Google Lunar X Prize.

Linux Kernal Numbering System

The great thing about the Linux Kernel is that it's always being updated and revised by programmers. With these updated there is a need for keeping them in order and being able to identify them. That is where the numbering system came in.

The numbering scheme consist of 4 numbers. The first denotes the kernel version. It is changed only when major changes in the concept and the code of the kernel occur. The second number represents the major revision of the kernel version. The third number stands for the minor revision of the kernel and it is only changed when new features or drivers are added. Finally, the fourth number represents corrections for things such as security patches and bugs fixes. Sometimes the numbers are followed by letters and those letters are followed by other numbers. These refer to a release candidate and a non-official release. Sometimes other letters indicate the person responsible for that release.

Currently the numbers that represent the most recent Linux Kernel are 2.6.11.

The Cathedral and the Bazaar

The Cathedral and the Bazaar is the title of an essay writen Eric S. Raymond. If focuses on the development of the Linux kernel. It highlights two different different methods to develop free software.

The term Cathedral is references the idea of having software available to the masses free but only when it's ready to be released. An exclusive group of software developers are in charge of the development of the software and fixing any bugs or problems that may arise.

Bazaar is a kind of a marketplace where different goods are offered. This is a perfect name for what Eric described as a contrast to Cathedral. In this process the software is developed out in the open on the internet. This makes it possible for different developers to work on the software and contribute their talents.

Although I think both models have their pros and cons, I came to the conclusion that if a software is to be made open source it should then follow the Bazaar model. It would greatly benefit the users if we have different talented programmers and developers work on and input their ideas on a software as it is being used.

The Linux Kernel

There are two main parts in an operating system. There is the kernel and the system programs. They function together to make sure the operating system runs as it should. The kernel is kind of like a coordinator. It manages and distributes the resources necessary like memory, hardware device, disk space and CPU to all the programs that run on the computer.

Two features that distinguish the Linux Kernel are its efficiency and its portability. Since it's open source it lends itself to new advancements from different programmers. It's also compatible with different system processors and platforms.

7 Things You Don't Know About Me

I was born and raised in the Almighty Chicago, Illinois and I hope to move back.

I have 4 sisters, I'm the middle child and I've always wanted a brother.

I'm a big time Chicago sports fan. The Bears are my first team followed by the White Sox, Bulls and the Fighthing Illini.

I was an amateur boxer for about 5 years, and not to toot my own horn, but I was pretty good . I competed in the regional Golden Gloves and in the Junior Olympics.

I skipped High School all together not going to one single class. I've always liked school but it was a family thing that made us move to Mexico right after I graduated from the 8th grade. I did get my GED and I tested good enough in my Accuplacer where I was told I was at a regular college level. While in Chicago I attended a grammar school for smart kids so I guess that helped me out. I'm real proud of this fact because without having attended High School I will, hopefully at the end of this semester, have acquired my first Associates and will be half way to my second one.

I think I have a small case of OCD. I tend to do small things that don't make sense but yet I can't stop doing them. It's not that bad but it is kind of funny.

About a year and a half ago I started taking salsa dance lessons and I've really gotten into it. I just like it because people that know me would never think of me as a dancer but I'm actually pretty decent. Actually my favorite dance is bachata; it's another type of Latin dance. So for all young ladies out there that would like to go out dancing some time just hit me up. You'll have fun!!