MIT's gone open source...

[jhadhar65]

http://ocw.mit.edu/OcwWeb/web/home/home/index.htm

[G._Hoffman]

Well, heck, why not.  Half the open source software out there came from MIT, so why not?


Gabriel

[DummyLoad]

Well, heck, why not.  Half the open source software out there came from MIT, so why not?


Gabriel

huh? that doesn't seem right...

[G._Hoffman]

Well, heck, why not.  Half the open source software out there came from MIT, so why not?


Gabriel

huh? that doesn't seem right...

Well, former MIT students.  And it's probably a bit of a hyperbolic statement.  I've been known to do that.     Certainly, several of the big guys in the Open Source movement were MIT grad students.  I can't remember their names, but I watched a great documentary about it, and all the guys involved seemed to come out of MIT or Stanford.  Most of the components for the various Linux were written originally by one or two MIT guys.  It has, of course, been changed over the years (well, that's the whole point of Open Source), but the first versions were mostly this one guy from MIT.  (I can't remember his name.)


Gabriel

[Bassmanster]

Richard Stallman, the guru of Gnu and the godfather of open-source.  Linux is formally called Gnu/Linux because it needs the gcc compiler.  The X window system is also a product of MIT.  X is used in Gnome, one of the two major desktops for Linux.

The Linux kernel is from Linus Torvalds, a Finn (who lives in Portland now).  His efforts also gave a big boost to FOSS (free open-source software).

All universities should consider going to FOSS.  There is very little reason not to nowadays, and much more to learn from it (source code, hackable, development community, etc).

I have also gone open-source.  My home system and my recordings are on Ubuntu using Hydrogen, Ardour and of course, Jack.

[jhadhar65]

I've a soft spot for GPL stuff - especially OSes.  I dig a little Debian and Fedora occasionally, plus I play with Red Hat and SUSE distros.  I really like where things are going with Ubuntu, et al.  I'm playing with Kubuntu just now, since I like KDE better than the other desktops.  I haven't toyed with KDE's Plasma just yet, but it sure looks interesting.

Here's some guitar stuff:  http://maketecheasier.com/5-essential-linux-apps-for-guitarists/2009/12/03#more-8851

I've been playing with abandonware a little.  Not open source, but fun anyway.  I just got Windows 3.11 and MS-DOS 6.22 running on a virtual machine.  I know, not too useful.  It is fun, though, and a bit challenging to get it going.  I've been tinkering with Windows 1.01, but no joy yet.  I can't seem to build a VM small enough.  1.01 needs 256k of RAM and Virtualbox won't go below 4GB.  I'm not sure if that's the problem or if it just doesn't like DOS 3 or what.  Other people have conquered it, so I'll get it sooner or later.  I'm thinking of building a physical 286 machine just for the fun of it.

Back to GNU:  I just bought a 10V from Dell for my oldest daughter and I'm thinking of Kubuntu Netbook Edition with KDE Plasma when 10.04 stabilizes.  It's got XP now, which I've fully updated and configured.  I'll image it as soon as she's set her passwords as a failsafe in case she doesn't think Tux is as cool as I do.

Sorry to type a book here.  I don't normally let my geek-side out of the closet.