C
I'm seeing a disturbing trend among companies who proudly display Tux and sometimes "Powerd by Linux" on their web pages because the hardware they produce runs Linux at its core.
The "trend" I'm talking about is this: Companies using Linux to drive their hardware, putting Tux up front and center for all to see, only for people like myself to find out that the software to program these devices requires Windows to run.
I'm sure there are some kernel hackers who appreciate the contributions to the kernel code and I'm not saying that this is entirely a bad thing. But for the community at large, I feel this is a slap in the face.
For me it goes like this:
Do a google search for "Linux PLC", see quite a few listings, get excited, go to the web pages, find out the programming software only runs in windows, get disappointed.
With the cross platform programming tools available today there is simply no excuse for this. I consider this taking from the community and not giving anything back.
Hat tip to two companies that I feel have done it right:
http://www.automationx.com
http://www.softplc.com
These are two companies that I know of that have actually given back to the linux community. Yes, are expensive. But they allow the user to use linux exclusively with no dependance on Windows... even for programming software.
If any of you know of other companies that give people like me this freedom, please share them.
The "trend" I'm talking about is this: Companies using Linux to drive their hardware, putting Tux up front and center for all to see, only for people like myself to find out that the software to program these devices requires Windows to run.
I'm sure there are some kernel hackers who appreciate the contributions to the kernel code and I'm not saying that this is entirely a bad thing. But for the community at large, I feel this is a slap in the face.
For me it goes like this:
Do a google search for "Linux PLC", see quite a few listings, get excited, go to the web pages, find out the programming software only runs in windows, get disappointed.
With the cross platform programming tools available today there is simply no excuse for this. I consider this taking from the community and not giving anything back.
Hat tip to two companies that I feel have done it right:
http://www.automationx.com
http://www.softplc.com
These are two companies that I know of that have actually given back to the linux community. Yes, are expensive. But they allow the user to use linux exclusively with no dependance on Windows... even for programming software.
If any of you know of other companies that give people like me this freedom, please share them.