Most of the Linux Code Comes From Companies
Most of GNU/Linux users are contributing to the Linux community either through Corporate Contribution or through Community Contribution. Recently, I found an interesting post at theregister.co.uk states that most of the Linux code(75%) comes from Corporation Contribution (which is paid to write the code), another 18% comes from community contribution (which is volunteered), and another 7% of the code is unclassified (which might also be volunteered).
The following are top companies that contributed to the 75% of Linux code:
Google and Apple, which both use Linux-based system, are absent from the GNU/Linux Contribution list. Perhaps those two companies have very little contribution to the Linux code? I know that Google has several Open Source projects and it’s building its own Linux distro, Chrome OS. Personally I don’t like Apple because its expensive hardware and almost all of the digital contents that come from Apple are DRM-restricted.
NOTE: This post is the correction of the earlier post. Some of the comments below might not reflect content of this post.
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Others have already said this, but I hope I can provide a clear and concise summary.
As somebody also commented on identi.ca, the baseline for talking about Free Software is the Free Software Foundation’s Free Software Definition.
http://www.gnu.org/philosophy/free-sw.html
“Free” means software that has the four freedoms: Freedom to use, freedom to modify, freedom to distribute copies, freedom to distribute modified copies.
Regardless who the contributor is, any part of the Linux kernel except binary blobs certainly has all these freedoms. The cost behind producing the software, whether it’s salaries or free time spent, has no bearing on the freedom of the resulting code.
Apple wouldn’t contribute to the Linux kernel since they don’t use it, but they certainly have made contributions to other parts of the GNU/Linux system, in particular WebKit.
Google, regardless if the have contributed to the Linux kernel, certainly have contributed to the GNU/Linux system.
Hi, Claes. Thanks for the URL and information. I will learn more about GNU Project and GPL license.
I agree with what ale said but I would also like to add that none of this parapraph is correct.
“Google and Apple, which both use Linux-based system, are absent from the GNU/Linux Contribution list. Apple sure wouldn’t contribute to the Linux kernel since its products are most expensive and it’s a closed-source company. But I couldn’t find any reason why Google is not contributing to the GNU/Linux community?”
Google has hired many people from the GNU/Linux & Free (think Free speech not Free beer) Software community. And every year Google runs the “Google Summer of Code” where they pay college kids to contribute to Free Software projects.
And now on to Apple. Darwin, the Kernel that runs the OS X Operating System is based on Free BSD which is Free Software but is not Linux. Also the Apple webbrowser Safari is based on Webkit, which was previously called Khtml. Apple submitted patches back to the Khtml/Webkit project early on in Safari’s Development cycle but hasnt since.
I’m not trying to flame you, I just want to set the record strait. If you ever want to ask questions or get a nice history of Free Software, the GNU Project, and Linux get a hold of me and I’d be happy to help.
Hi, threethirty. Thanks for the information. I wrote some of my posts based on one article around the web that interests me and then summarize it. I think I need to learn more about GNU Project history:)
Your notice is an utter fabrication as most code contributed by companies is free. And they, if you don’t know, are part of the “community”. Much more when you realise they are contributing more than you do!!
The code remains free of malicious corporate malpractices thanks to GPL/compatible licenses.
Please educate yourself before misleading people in the WWW.
Hi Mario G.H. Sorry for the incorrect information. I will make sure the information is correct before I post. Thanks for the advise!
dude, you made such a confusion you’re not even wrong.
first, all GNU code is free software.
freedom is a requirement for code to become part of the GNU operating system.
second, the kernel Linux, which is what the post you referenced talks about, has some parts contributed by people working for companies.
that is what the register post stated, and it’s a well known fact. many developers who work the kernel for free end up hired to do it for one of the many companies that base their products on it.
and those parts are also free.
freedom is a requirement for code to be distributed as a part of Linux, because of its licnese: the GNU GPL.
you might wanna study a bit more about free software, the GNU project, and their licenses
take care,
ale