[Mageia-dev] [fedora-arm] ARM summit at Plumbers 2011

Wed Aug 24 18:26:00 CEST 2011

Luke:
+
+
+Step back from the keyboard just a bit.  :)
+
+It's true that the glass isn't completely full--- but it's pretty
+darned full!  And we wouldn't be discussing the various GPL and other
+violations that you cite were it not for the overwhelming successes of
+Free Software, ARM, Linux, and Android.
+
+We are well past debating the merits of Free Software et. al, which
+itself is a huge milestone that we need to recognize.  Now it's time
+to let the lawyers do their jobs.  And they will, because there are
+tremendous sums of money at play.  Money that wouldn't be there if it
+weren't for us developers.  But we need to stay out of their way,
+while at the same time taking care to continue producing tangible
+things that are worth fighting over.
+
+As developers, we've won.  Deal with it.  Revel in it.  And then get over it.
+
+I have observed all the hand-wringing regarding the state of ARM
+Linux, and it's obvious to everyone that there is still work to be
+done.  ARM isn't like PCs, and that's obviously inconvenient for Linus
+but it's an essential part of ARM's success.  Russell King has been
+overworked for a decade or more, attempting through sheer force of
+human/developer will to keep ARM Linux from running off the rails.
+
+As far as ARM Linux is concerned, I think we're dangerously close to
+being smothered by our own success.   We have to learn to work
+smarter, because we can't work any harder.  And I applaud Linaro and
+the countless others for recognizing this problem and looking for ways
+to resolve it.
+
+I for one would love to participate in the ARM Summit, but I'm a sole
+proprietor without an expense account to charge the travel costs to
+and they are too large for me to carry personally.  I suspect I'm not
+the only one in that situation.
+
+The fact that there has been little response to the ARM Summit doesn't
+mean that nobody cares or that the problems seem to large to solve.
+It just means that we're going to have to find a different way to get
+this work done.
+
+
+b.g.
+-- 
+Bill Gatliff
+bgat at billgatliff.com
+