Google and Open Source
October 27th, 2005 by Doc Searls
It's possible that Google may be the largest open source-based company on Earth. I'm guessing at that, and I might be wrong. Several years ago, in a conversation at Google with some of their honchos, one of them told me Google's plan was to have over a million servers behind its search service, all running on LInux. I don't know if that's come to pass yet. Or if it matters, frankly. But it's crossing my mind as I get ready to talk tomorrow (or soon thereafter) with Google's chief open source guru (technically, Open Source Project Manager), Chris DiBona.
The occasion is this announcement (and others like it, sure to come along).
If any of ya'll have some questions you'd like me to ask Chris, put them below, or send me pointers to wherever you've posted them (your own blog or publication, for example).
__________________________
Doc Searls is Senior Editor of Linux Journal
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open source
On June 6th, 2006 Serg (not verified) says:
"Google may be the largest open source-based company on Earth." I quite agree with you. Even the various statistics is accessible to everyone
If enough of us..
On November 16th, 2005 gryphen (not verified) says:
keep asking Google how much longer we have to wait then I think they'll be inclined to answer.
http://www.denverlinux.com/myfirstlinux/google.html
google does not believe in opensource
On November 3rd, 2005 Anonymous (not verified) says:
I understand their apps/algorithms are secret..
Why do they not give their linux kernel changes
back to the community? It is well known
that they have Google File System (GFS) which
would be some sort of high-performance distributed
file system.
Google basically takes all the linux kernel work from
open source community but does not give back to linux.
It is great that they are finally supporting some open source projects. But are they really giving back?
And the wine project
On October 22nd, 2006 What Is (not verified) says:
What about the 100+ fixes that Google poured into wine during the Picasa development? That's not giving back?
google
On October 11th, 2007 Greece Travel (not verified) says:
Picasa is an excellent example of the "giving" that Google does. Sure, it makes millions daily, but until they start charging you for searching, its still the only search engine I always use.
there is not a rule
On February 1st, 2006 Jesus (not verified) says:
sorry man, but there is not a rule that makes Google to give back what you want about linux kernel or GFS...jajaja
They do not publish it beacuse dont have to... simply !!
Regards
JR
Question - Give and Take
On October 29th, 2005 John (not verified) says:
FLOSS depends upon people giving to the community as well as taking from it.
Google is the largest open-source based company, has made billions, but has put very little back into the movement.
Taking Python as an example, Google makes extensive use of Python (as well as C++ and Java), but to the best of my knowledge their contribution back into Python consists of a single $2000 annual subscription to the Python Software Foundation, the gift of a Google tee-shirt to Guido van Rossum, and a few talks at conferences. No substantial investment to secure the future of the language (which Google could afford, easily), and no release of code.
This is a blatant abuse of the FLOSS movement, have Google any plans to put it right? The Summer of Code was a tiny start, but totally inadequate compared with the huge financial benefits Google have reaped.
Have you seen code.google.com?
On November 2nd, 2005 Anonymous (not verified) says:
How about Summer of Code?
http://code.google.com/soc-results.html
Scroll to Python Software Foundation
Or the Python Libraries they have donated to the OS community?
http://sourceforge.net/projects/goog-goopy/
http://sourceforge.net/projects/goog-kongulo/
Or the $350,000.00 donation they have made to a joint open source technology initiative?
http://googleblog.blogspot.com/2005/10/supporting-open-source.html
Google zeitgeist, earth
On October 28th, 2005 Anonymous (not verified) says:
It would be nice if Google Zeitgeist would publish the OS market share and browser market share numbers like it used to. I'm specifically interested in seeing more details about the Linux desktop market share.
Just put a disclaimer that it's not a scientific sampling.
It would also be great if Google Earth was ported to Linux. Right now it's yet another Windows app that alienates Linux desktops. Chris showed Google Earth running on a XP laptop at the Bellingham LinuxFest ;p
Questions
On October 28th, 2005 PierreS (not verified) says:
Do you plan to advocate for open-source projects,os through Google?
Is Vista and connected search a threat?
Do you plan to support Ubuntu,Solaris or any other Linux distro?
A Blogger plug-in for Word has been made.Any plans for an Oo one ?
Any plans for a page listing quality software recommended by Google?
Any plans to release more oss?
Will SoC be repeated?
Chris,the fact that Google support Oss rocks.
Help Linux Weekly News
On October 28th, 2005 Anonymous (not verified) says:
You might ask him what Google will do to help make Linux Weekly News, which we all depend on, economically viable.
If I may suggest
On October 28th, 2005 James (not verified) says:
Though Google may well be the largest software open source company. I'd like to propose what is probably the largest open source company. GM. Although their EULA/License does actually have a warrenty that protects the end user *grin*. Want to learn how to build a car? They send you on a tour, you can get books from the Library detailing to the most minute detail how the car is built. You can get all the information you need to build/modify/redesgn as you please.
Other commanalities, when you buy a car. You own it, Not GM, you. If you want to change something, adjust it, replace it. Go ahead. Want to take the engine for a Chevy and put it in a Pontiac? Go ahead. Want to modify the exhaust system for better performance? Go right ahead. You might void your warranty (that's reasonable) but it's your car do as you will.
Finally you can sell your car, and the person who buys it from you has full rights of ownership. Just as you did. More than one person can use the car, they don't charge extra for more passengers, or extra drivers in the family.
Granted you rarely can get a car for free. However to be free (according to Stalman) it must be as in freedom, not as in beer.
The metaphor
On October 28th, 2005 bmo (not verified) says:
I've always thought the DIY auto aftermarket/timkering/customizing thang was a great if always overlooked analogy for 'free culture'. Linux, open source, free culture - it's the NASCAR culture, really. It's the same impulse.
Gearheads and Geeks
On October 28th, 2005 The Monster (not verified) says:
Absolutely. Most people just drive their cars and use their computers. Gearheads, who bore out cylinders, install custom crankshafts, twiddle with timing, superchargers, etc., have the same mentality as overclockers, Gentoo users, and anyone who's ever tweaked source code. And now that automobiles are computerized, there's an intersection of interests: the gearheads want to be able to reprogram their fuel injection, ignition, automatic transmission; read the diagnostics from the computer, and are demanding access to the diagnostic codes that manufacturers only want authorized dealers to get.
how does it work?
On October 28th, 2005 wjl (not verified) says:
I'd like to know how Google (yes, the search engine) works. I mean - come on, it is pretty fast. Horribly fast. And I still cannot believe that putting a server in each country, then two, then three, until they sum up to a million is enough effort.
Maybe there's a university site where I could read all this, but having a link to that would help. I'm the guy that wants to learn as long as he can...
cheers,
wjl
second class citizens
On October 27th, 2005 helios (not verified) says:
We realize that Microsoft has the Lion's share of the desktop market. We also realize that Google's road to wealth was paved with gold by Linux. We want to know, and not in generic "soon, very soon" answers.
When will Google give the Linux community Desktop 2, Google Earth and Deskbar?
It HAS been talked about on Linuxtoday.com via:
http://lobby4linux.com/WordPress/?p=54
They're working on it
On October 28th, 2005 linuxphile (not verified) says:
According to an article posted at eWeek yesterday, http://www.eweek.com/article2/0,1759,1877924,00.asp?kc=EWRSS03129TX1K0000616, they are working on porting their apps to Linux. The message was be patient.
Linux versions of Google programs
On October 28th, 2005 amd-linux (not verified) says:
Helios,
I understand that there are (could be...) business reasons for not offering the respective Linux/Mac versions. That is fine with me. I also understand that they can not open all the code for contractual reasons (Google Earth) or because the search alghorithm (Desktop2) it is one of their biggest assets.
However, the Linux community, that made Google possible, can expect that they at least
- publish the interface specifications for Google Earth
- they compile all these 3 Windows versions in a way that they can at least be used with Wine (Cedega or Crossover Office).
I yesterday tried to install GoogleEarth on Ubuntu on Cedega - no chance even to install it on the very latest Cedega. It is also still a pain to use Picassa on Wine.
So my question:
So if they cant / dont want to actively support Linux versions, why the heck can they not do the minimum and just give out the informations to developers that can be given and also try to compile their programs in a way that they can used with Wine on Linux????? To me it looks at the moment as if they do not WANT their programs being used on Linux/Mac.
questions
On October 27th, 2005 Anonymous (not verified) says:
Is the Chinese Communist Party making Silicon Valley totalitarian faster than Silicon Valley is making China open source?
What's the % of Google people using Linux on the desktop internally?
Now that Google is so big, how do you share info within the co.? Is there a Secret Internal Google-Slashdot?
What's the real story with NAVTEQ? Can't you just buy them and make all the maps, like, all free and stuff?
Are there any governments that are so evil you wouldn't do business in a jurisdiction where you might possibly have to turn over a user's IP address to them?
google using Linux Servers
On November 7th, 2005 Prakash J Kokkatt (not verified) says:
Atleast google should increase their contrib to OSS community.
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