http://www.desktoplinux.com/articles/AT6850645834.html An interview with ELX Linux founder and chief architect, Abhi Datt Rick Lehrbaum (Feb. 4, 2002)
DesktopLinux.com founder and executive editor Rick Lehrbaum interviews Abhi Datt, Chief Software Architect and founder of Project ELX, a new project to create a uniquely easy-to-use Linux distribution. Abhi Datt describes his vision for Project ELX, lists the main features of the ELX Linux distribition, provides an update on the status of ELX, and shares his thoughts on how Linux can succeed on the desktop and elsewhere.
-------------------------------------------------------------------- DesktopLinux.com: What is ELX? What are its main objectives?
Abhi Datt: ELX, as its name suggests, is "everyone's Linux". It is the most comprehensive work ever done to bring Linux to desktop. Very soon, ELX will bring to users a complete suite of various Linux based operating systems so that it caters to the complete needs of a wide range of users -- from home, to corporate, to power users, to hardcore developers. Our vision and mission are to take Linux to everyone.
DesktopLinux.com: What are the key features and software that ELX will provide?
Abhi Datt: The expression "ease of use" has become such a misnomer that I would rather refrain from using it. ELX's true brilliance can only be appreciated by actually using it. ELX does not believe in "dumbing down" the system to achieve so called simplicity. It's the most comprehensive work ever done to bring Linux on the desktops of all -- and by that I mean normal users, power users, and developers. People who think ease and power cannot walk hand-in-hand should try ELX to change their opinion. It's easy to make a Windows-lookalike desktop, but its difficult to make it actually work like one -- of course I'm not talking about Windows' inimitable ability to crash!
Small things do matter. For example: How do you share files in Windows? Right click on any folder and pick share, a couple of buttons, and off it goes in the network. ... How do you copy your files to your floppy? Right click and send to floppy. ... How do you add a printer? Go to Control panel say add printer and follow the wizard. ... How do you change Network settings? ... How do you zip a file and email it? ... Try doing all this in ELX, and you will know why ELX is ELX.
ELX comes with 3 fullfledged office suites (including OpenOffice), 5 browsers, 2 state-of-the-art email clients with outlook express compatibilty, a complete multimedia suite to run virtually all file formats, and more. "Application Launch Pad System" (ALPS) manages all this in the most intelligent way. Though the default desktop environment is based on KDE, it installs base libraries of Gnome so all Gnome applications work perfectly well.
For system adminstrators and network administrators, ELX offers the latest Linux kernel with a lot of security patches. It also provides the latest configuration tools, the ability to control a network securely from any remote place via a browser, a firewall utility, plus an auto backup utility which is advanced enough to handle backup of complete partitions automatically on a periodic basis over the network itself.
If someone is looking for an extraordinary development environment, ELX is the answer. It provides twin compilers (gcc 2.96 and 3.0.3) switchable on a flick of a button, twin QT libraries, latest development components, four preconfigured IDEs (Integrated Development Environments) incuding a Java IDE, two databases and preconfigured database drivers in IDEs, Sun's latest JRE, and a graphical versioning system. What else could a developer ask for?
There is so much in ELX that if I tell you about any one of its areas, it will overshadow all the others. ELX has so much to offer that it can best be judged by actually using it. We are, in fact, releasing multiple versions of ELX along with the main release so that users can pick the most appropriate package. But ELX will never do a version which is inadequate in any means. So its fundamental character of Power and Ease will alway be preserved even in its basest of versions.
DesktopLinux.com: Is ELX a totally free and open source distribution?
Abhi Datt: The base version of ELX will remain free and under GPL, though there will also be several commercial versions available.
DesktopLinux.com: What is the current status of ELX? Can people download and run ELX now? When can we expect a first "finished", stable version?
Abhi Datt: Right from day one ELX has come out with an ultra stable version. We have a record that out of more than 40 thousand ELX users worldwide, there is not even a single after-install crash problem reported so far. And in many places (even in some renowned universities) it's used as a server because of its stabilty, ease of use, and ease of configuration. The current release of ELX (the new ISO set of preI/rc2E currently available) has no known bugs and is highly stable. It has been thoroughly tested.
It is very much available for download. Users can visit our download page. The main release of ELX can be expected very shortly. In fact, it is currently under testing by several universities and developers worldwide. It will have several firsts to its credit -- a part of which we are keeping as a surprise.
DesktopLinux.com: What is your vision of the opportunity for Linux on the desktop? What are the main barriers to the growing use of Linux on the desktop? (what are the key things that must be done in order for Linux to succeed? etc...)
Abhi Datt: I think as a result of the entry of ELX there will be very little, if any, reason left with potential migrators to not switch over to Linux. But to actually keep maintaining a fair balance with the mammoth resources and market clout of Microsoft, all the Linux supporters should focus themselves on the real issues, which according to my understanding are as follows . . . Linux support from hardware vendors -- All hardware vendors have to be pressed to release Linux drivers out of factory, and in fact to ensure fair play in the market the US Government should pass a statutory regulation directing these vendors to do the same or at least write a clear and conspicous warning on their devices such as: "WARNING: ALL CUSTOMERS ARE HEREBY WARNED THAT THIS PRODUCT CURRENTLY SUPPORTS ONLY WINDOWS BASED SYTEMS". Hiding or not prominently displaying this fact from the innocent buyers is one of the prime reasons why people who want to excercise their freedom of choice also sometimes get badly locked into one technology only. How often does it happen that you purchase a laptop / modem / webcam only to later discover that your hardware is either not supported or partially supported in Linux? This attitude of most hardware/system vendors has made it almost impossible for Linux developers to keep up, since the onus is left to Linux developers to create compatible drivers to support the hardware/system vendors when it should really be the reverse.
Linux support from software vendors -- Software application vendors should come forward and make their applications available to Linux users as well. In any case, more and more business applications are now becoming web based and therefore operating system independent. But applications used for specific purposes like CAD / CAM, graphic designing, etc. need to be made available for Linux as well. It now makes more commercial sense than ever for application vendors to have their Linux versions ready.
Education -- There is a pressing need to educate and inform normal desktop users and corporate users so that they can make informed decisions rather than allowing themselves to fall into vicious cycles of vendor designed technology traps. The implications of their buying decisions with respect to both hardware and software have a direct impact on them both technically and financially. In fact we are planing to start an "Educating exercise" through the ELX website, to help people make informed and proper decisions. Until and unless we involve "normal users" in this cause, some of the hardware/software vendors will keep taking advantage of their ignorance. We'll be inviting both hardware and software vendors to inform Linux users how much of their product range currently supports Linux and when (if at all) they plan to provide Linux support for the rest. We will also try to inform users as much as possible regarding alternatives, provide compatibility rankings, etc. This will allow normal users to make better decisions.
Lack of action oriented focus -- To bring much needed fair balance into action, the focus of the Linux friendly organizations should be unified. Until and unless we bring Linux closer to common normal users, it will keep itself distant from people's acceptance. Though IBM has announced a mammoth support for Linux, it has kept itself largely to the enterprise/server side of it. On the other hand, Sun would contest with Microsoft for issues such as not "standardizing" its Java standards, conceding in a way that Microsoft's OS can be the only viable vehicle to do so. Why? If giants like them can spend a fraction of their resources on addressing issues like giving more support to Linux developers, business application development on Linux, Framing common standards for Linux application development, and so forth, results would be far more effective.
Finding a way to make money --- There needs to be some mechanism in open source where people can make some money (if they desire to do so) so they get further motivated to the cause rather than taking these issues part time, or as university days passions, or, for that matter, kind hearted gestures. In fact, to some extent this image of the Linux / open source community was responsible for not allowing it to gain an entry into serious corporate environments for a long time. Now, however, users are demanding an equal level of services from Linux companies, and also are not hesitating to pay for it. DesktopLinux.com: Do you think there is either a geographical or cultural difference in how Microsoft is perceived in India and other parts of Asia vs. how they are perceived in the U.S. and Europe? For example, is it easier or harder to get individuals and companies to switch to Linux from Windows in India and the rest of Asia than in the U.S. and Europe?
Abhi Datt: One great thing about Windows is that it has proven to be a great unifier of cultural/geographical disparities of all sorts. It behaves the same way for everyone, everywhere -- and also evokes similar responses. As far as my experience goes, U.S citizens are the first to embrace, support, and encourage newer/better technologies. People in the U.S. are more open to change and are on the lookout for newer and better alternatives. Often, they make changes due to technical, rather than economic, reasons. Here in Asia, on the other hand, Linux is growing in popularity because of the immediate economic advantages it offers. Currently, a wave of Linux is sweeping througout China and South Korea. And Linux has just recently started picking up in India.
DesktopLinux.com: Please give a brief overview of the history and background of the ELX project. Who are its leaders? Is a commercial enterprise funding or supporting ELX, or is it a community project based on volunteer efforts? How many developers are working on ELX?
Abhi Datt: Project ELX was begun in February 2000, to build a distribution with the ease of Windows and robustness of Linux. For a little while it was funded by a commercial organization. Thereafter, it was funded by me until we became self sufficient -- this initially included a lot of sacrifices on the part of every ELX team member, who worked for minimum salaries and rejected lucrative job offers in India and overseas. All this because of their love towards ELX. We managed to achieve self sufficiency through various assignments including work in areas of embedded systems, training, and migration solutions. Now, with orders for support versions and CD's pouring in, we expect to be posting profits.
We at ELX are a team of twelve people all below the age of 27 and with highly technical background and experience. Each ELX team member is key to the project. Narsi is Chief of Operations at ELX; his role in ELX design and development has been instrumental. He and I share the same vision, and without him I could never have taken this endeavor so far. Other key team members: Padmaja leads the Installation Team, Murali leads the Programs Management Team, Sudarshan leads the Desktop Team, Venkat leads Testing Team, and Praveen heads up Web-based Development of ELX.
My own role is that of Chief Software Architect and founder. I, together with my team, design technical roadmaps, frame day-to-day objectives, and ensure that the teams' objectives are met by putting everyone's efforts in the right direction. I also am responsible for taking care of business issues at ELX.
DesktopLinux.com: Is there anything else you would like to add?
Abhi Datt: I'd like to add that the role of DesktopLinux.com in promoting the ease factor of Linux is equally instrumental -- if not more so -- than developing a product like ELX itself. For an organization like us which has an ace product like ELX, but limitations both geographically and in terms of resources, it is difficult to make our voice heard. We are extremely thankful to DesktopLinux.com for taking up the cause of actually bringing Linux nearer to people.
DesktopLinux.com: And we are most grateful to you as well, for your efforts of creating "the people's Linux" -- and also for sharing some of your time and thoughts with the Desktop Linux community. Thank you and good luck with Project ELX! ------------------------------------------------------------------
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