Linux usage stats (Asia) (was Re: [svlug] Re: Debian/Red Hat)

[George Bonser]

On Wed, 17 Mar 1999, Ian Kluft wrote:

> I think this is an amusing landmark in the rapid growth of Linux... three
> distributions stumbling over each other to claim the best support for the
> Japanese market. :-)

I don't think Debian would want to claim "best support of the Asian
market" I was trying to point out that there are active alternatives in
Asia to PHT.  Debian is not in competition with any of the other
distributions since market share means nothing to them. They are not in
the business of producing Linux for profit but are producing a
distribution in the same spirit that the kernel itself is produced in. It
is the product of the community.

> 
> Though it's probably a source of minor annoyance to the three of you, these
> are actually good problems for Linux to have.

Doesn't annoy me. I think the other distros could use the Debian project
to good advantage by leveraging the vast developer resources there. Debian
can not discriminate for or against any vendor of applications or other
distributions. It looks at the GPL, its own free software guidelines, and
other standards such as the FHS and LSB and attempts to produce the
standard baseline absolutely free, reference standard Linux distribution.
Any non-free or contrib packages that are associated with the distribution
must pass the same quality standards as the main distro and development of
such software as lintian help ensure that packages stay within the
guidelines.  

I suppose the key is to provide a predictable, documented, standard
distribution with 100% volunteer staff spread all over the world. For a
project as large as it is, it is a difficult and thankless task.  I often
have my differences with them but they have my utmost respect and produce
a fine product.  I think they are worthy of community support.




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