Russia's Operating System May Be Fedora Based 242
Glyn Moody writes "Last month, a story about Russia producing its own national operating system based on GNU/Linux started circulating. Now there's some confirmation, and details of how the plan might be put into practice. Red Hat had a meeting with the Russian communications ministry, which announced that the development of free software in Russia was one of its priorities. One concrete idea they talked about was using the Russian Fedora project as a step towards creating a national operating system."
How will they call it? (Score:1, Informative)
"Red ushanka" [wiktionary.org]?
Obligitory (Score:4, Informative)
Its not a Russian OS, its a Russian Distribution...
first link (Score:1, Informative)
Okay, as a more accurate translation of the first story:
part one:
The IT community is asking the president to support the idea of a national operating system. Future developers of the can receive this support in the form of a federal goal program . In any case, this is what the authors of the letter, which is being written in [government [?]], to President Medvedev are counting on //I assume by a federal goal program they want the government to control the project.
part two:
In addition to the request to initiate the preparation of the federal program, it will contain a justified benefit from the creation of a Ânational OSÂ. While it is understood that the basis for the OS will be existing systems with [open code]. The question of this openness, in the letter will Âremain open so as not to overload the president technical details // the basis will be off open code, but the level of it's use will be arguable. //the last statement means that the letter will not be too technical
three:
The point of creating of Russia's Ânational OS is for military services and government[buildings] was commented on by the director of ALT Linux Alexei Smirnov: Âoperating systems can be called national if the state has the right to distribute and modify, and, as a customer, influence its development. There are no Systems that meet these requirements, neither in free, nor in proprietary software Â. Smirnov believes that the project ÂNational OS in the first phase will be [basic - based off something]: ÂWithout it, for example, there can be no talk of "National Iron " in it's timeÂ. We should not forget, Smirnov recalled, that if the system will adopt a Âfree model, then, Âthe more Russia will invest in the global movement of the ACT, the more it will have an impact on itÂ. //he considers the basis for the OP, // "national iron" is likely not related, used for comparison //last statement means that the more russia invests in the changing [cpu?], the more of an influence it will have
if anyone has a better translation, go ahead.
Re:RED Hat, come on ppl (Score:2, Informative)
Hmm... how to parse that?
If that's a reference to Communism it's a pretty lame joke.
If it's a reference to the adjective 'red' also meaning 'beautiful' in Russian, then it's a pretty smart one.
Already Done? (Score:2, Informative)
As is often the case, the key advantage that would flow from the creation of such a "national OS" is the control that it would give the Russian government - something it doesn't have with Windows, say, or even generalised free software produced elsewhere:
Not only is ALT Linux [linux.com] already around, but ASPLinux has been certified by the government. [linux.com] Are we re-inventing the wheel here?
Re:Fedora not a good choice (Score:2, Informative)
For the sake of god! (Score:4, Informative)
Re:Too perfect that it's based on RED Hat. (Score:3, Informative)
It's the beta testing-ground for RHEL. Mostly works, but only mostly.
Re:You are kidding arent you? (Score:4, Informative)
Re:RED Hat, come on ppl (Score:4, Informative)
Re:You are kidding arent you? (Score:3, Informative)
That is not a teacher quote, but a quote of JerryLeeCooper of ZDNet Talkback fame.
Re:It's Simple Really (Score:2, Informative)
What I mean is not that creating a "national OS" monopoly is a good thing (well, if they keep the source available - you never know - it might be), but rather that we all live in a world where there is an international OS monopoly and most people agree, or at least live silent with it. I don't know if I understood your intention well, but as far as I can see, your comment goes down to saying "It's gonna change into a tool of dictatorship because it's Russia". Well, yes, historically speaking you'll probably right, but how's Russia and it's yet-to-be national OS different from the whole "western world" and Windows? I see no difference at all.
In most countries Microsoft's OS is an "imposed standard" after all. It just might not be that obvious. I live in Poland, and in here basically all schools run Windows, most govt institutions do, and there is even an application you can only run on Windows that is the only way to manage your company's finance with the govt (I don't know the exact terms in english, but it's irrelevant) electronically. This IS an imposed standard. The only difference is that it's imposed by a foreign company, and just approved by the government. I don't know what's worse to be honest.
Heh, on the other hand, it's kinda funny and ironic, that the first governments to start introducing Linux nation-wide are the ones having historically not much to do with all the "Freedom"...