Date: Fri, 19 Mar 1999 10:47:19 -0700 From: Brett Glass <brett@lariat.org> To: Steve Price <sprice@hiwaay.net> Cc: "Jordan K. Hubbard" <jkh@zippy.cdrom.com>, Zippy <seth@freebie.dp.ny.frb.org>, advocacy@FreeBSD.ORG Subject: Re: Netscape browser Message-ID: <4.1.19990319103804.00a8ec60@localhost> In-Reply-To: <Pine.OSF.4.02.9903191025510.22761-100000@fly.HiWAAY.net> References: <4.1.19990319083523.03f7c470@localhost>
next in thread | previous in thread | raw e-mail | index | archive | help
At 10:53 AM 3/19/99 -0600, Steve Price wrote: >And to use the same argument that I get from the Linux folks here >when I say they can run Linux binaries under emulation on FreeBSD, >"Why would I want to run an emulated binary if I can run it on the >real thing?". [1] Let's face it the market for Linux is there and >at least in the minds of many the market for FreeBSD is not. Why >would a company write a native FreeBSD binary (for a market that >doesn't exist) so the market that does exist can run it under >emulation? [2] Again, to increase the size of the market. Another big incentive: they can include tested, BSD-licensed code in their commercial applications without giving away the farm due to the GPL. >Your FreeBSDulator for Linux idea will only work if we convince >them there is a market for FreeBSD and that more people will want >to use FreeBSD than Linux. I disagree. If that were true, the emulator wouldn't be needed at all. >This is the reason that despite all >its warts the Linuxulator is probably our best best right now. >They develop a product for what they believe to be a safe bet and >get an additional smaller market via emulation for free. You don't seem to get it. Emulation of a more popular platform is not a positive; it's a negative! Sales into the FreeBSD installed base are seen as sales into the Linux installed base, and native ports never exist. This is what killed OS/2 Warp. We must learn from history: he who emulates is in a weaker position, not a stronger one. >What we should be focusing our effort on is getting them to realize >that the market for FreeBSD *is* there. We can do that as well. But they won't unless they see native FreeBSD versions of software selling. (Remember, marketroids are completely blind to anything other than sales figures.) >We do that by making them >take note that when we use the Linux version of their product we do >so via Linux emulation under FreeBSD. When we have enough people >using their product under FreeBSD, then we turn the tables, unveil >your FreeBSDulator, and announce that since their biggest market is >FreeBSD they should have a native FreeBSD version. You can't suddenly "turn the tables" like that. Instead, you must make gradual, persistent inroads based on your strengths. One strength that Linux will NEVER have is commercially reusable BSD-licensed code. If we make it usable for Linux via a FreeBSD emulation library that runs on Linux, we can start winning binary ports. And that's key. --Brett To Unsubscribe: send mail to majordomo@FreeBSD.org with "unsubscribe freebsd-advocacy" in the body of the message
Want to link to this message? Use this URL: <https://mail-archive.FreeBSD.org/cgi/mid.cgi?4.1.19990319103804.00a8ec60>