My Linux Catch-All

Each week, I have tended to focus this column and the radio program on one specific topic. In the last week, a lot of little things have happened, and so I'll go down the list and comment on them.

It is rumored that Macromedia will open source (okay, I hate making new verbs and making a two-word verb is worse but what's a guy to do?) its Flash player. While a Flash plugin has been available for Netscape on Linux this is still important. To me, it means three things:

This is on the heels of the Inprise/Borland announcement about making Interbase Open Source.

Two weeks ago, I talked about acronyms and abbreviations on the program. There has been a lot of positive feedback suggesting that we add a glossary to our web site and possibly turn it into a book. We now have plans to make the web site addition, along with the facility for readers to suggest additions. We are also looking into the idea of producing a print version of the glossary.

One reader suggested a web site that currently exists, Webopedia. While not Linux-specific, it is a good site, with both definitions and links to related content.

Caldera is on its way to doing an IPO, and my guess is that SuSE won't be far behind. In the case of Caldera it should be interesting as their primary focus has been Value Added Resellers (VARs). This means they have had much less public visibility, but are likely to be more visible in the small business community.

Microsoft just announced that Bill Gates has stepped down from the position of CEO. Did Linux scare him so much that he is taking some time off to learn how to write graphics applications using Qt or GTK+? Well, that is a possibility. For amusement, check out Salon magazine's guesses here.

Steve Balmer will take over Gates' position as CEO, so this seems like a minimal change in the corporate structure. Gates will move into the position of Chief Software Architect. Would we be taking too much credit to think that Linux is a big reason Gates is moving back into the job of head geek?

Just a reminder: the waiting will be over on January 19, when Transmeta finally announces what they have been doing. It's an all-day affair and Linux Journal will be there. Watch our site for details.