Ten Things Linux Needs to Make it Big(ger) in the Enterprise

Written by Jason Brooks and Illustrated by Brian Moore

Yes, Linux is free software, but that doesnt have to mean the exclusion of proprietary software. Linux vendors and developers need to pursue ways of making proprietary software at least as at-home on Linux as these apps are on Windows.

Software installation is many times simpler for Linux than for other platforms-provided someone has taken the time to package the app youre installing for your specific Linux distribution. If not, things can get very confusing. Linux backers need to make

Linux backers need to do a better job convincing hardware makers that its in their interests to support the Linux platform-if not by building drivers themselves, then by making the needed specifications and documentation available to Linux developers. Se

Code sharing is at the heart of every open-source project, but Linux would be better off if its major backers did more teaming up to target common goals, such as bug tracking, localization and hardware support.

Free software is for sharing, but licensing arcana too often keeps separate bodies of open code from intermingling. This means that Linux and other free platforms dont have access to all available open code. For a start, wed like to see the GPL 3 drafti

Free software has seen a recent trend in coding bounties, which are cash offers for developing specific free software applications and application extensions. All of Linux and open-source softwares stakeholders would do well to pull out the

Product activation, Genuine Advantage checks, new usage restrictions-the tougher Microsoft makes it for individuals and organizations to use Windows, the better the case for Linux migration.

The Linux platform needs a coherent directory story-one that reaches down to individual management settings on client desktops. Many of the pieces are in place, but theres no current Linux offering that really matches up to what Microsoft markets.

Linux and open-source software, specifically in noncommercial forms, represent a huge opportunity for resellers: They can take a license-fee-free stack of software, sell it for less than a proprietary solution would cost and pocket all of the revenue for

The platform needs more people to run Linux, buy Linux, sell Linux, file bug reports for Linux, talk about Linux, and create for and with Linux. For the Penguin to reach its potential, Linux needs more people pushing and pulling on and for the platform.