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Progression of Free

In recent years, free software has progressed enormously. Is this progression uniform or specific to certain types of use?

To assess the free software market share, let’s explore the different areas of software, namely operating systems , infrastructure software as well as client software .

Operating systems

Here are some of the major commercial operating systems:

  • Windows (which exists in different versions: 95, 98, Millenium, NT, 2000, XP, etc.)
  • Mac OS X , the operating system from Apple (which is based on a Unix architecture)
  • proprietary UNIX operating systems such as IBM Aix on RS6000, Sun Solaris on SPARC, HP UX from Hewlett Packard, SCO Unix on i86 or Irix from Silicon Graphics on MIPS (see: UNIX, Linux, comparisons and cohabitations with MS OS )

LindowsOS , a proprietary software, is presented as an operating system that offers the power, stability and economic advantages of Linux, while having the ease of use of the Windows range (user-friendly graphical interface and support for Windows files).

Among the free operating systems:

  • open source versions of Unix (also called free Unix ): FreeBSD , OpenBSD and NetBSD . These different versions appear more consistent and homogeneous than the different Linux distributions but are intended for experienced administrators.
  • Linux distributions  : the main ones are Mandrake , Red Hat , SuSE , Debian . Linux is also entering the PDA market.

The Linux Counter site estimates the number of Linux users at around 18 million .

Back-end applications

Apache free software is found on about 60% of web servers. Likewise, software for Sendmail, Postfix and Qmail servers represents 80% of e-mails exchanged (see Long live free software! ).

However, Linux is no longer confined to Internet servers and is increasingly used for mission-critical applications.

The Linux servers are on the increase:

  • Gartner estimates the growth of Linux servers at 64.7% during 2002, while the server market fell by 2.9% in this same period (see Linux Servers: + 64% in one year according to Gartner ).
  • “IBM alone would have achieved nearly $ 160 million in sales with its Linux servers. The global market for Linux servers is estimated at $ 384.6 million ”(see Linux up 90% in the fourth quarter of 2002 ).

Regarding the market share of Unix servers in the world, here are the estimates: Sun 50%, HP 20% and IBM 18% (see UNIX, Linux, comparisons and cohabitations with MS OS ).

Renowned companies turn to Linux

We can mention in particular:

  • Google ( Google uses the power of Red Hat Linux )
  • Amazon.com which turns away from Unix and prefers Linux Red Hat ( Amazon.com: Migration from Unix to Red Hat , pdf)
  • Toyota ( Toyota Motor Sales USA: Red Hat Linux Across the Enterprise , pdf).
  • IBM , which offers AIX, a proprietary UNIX operating system, openly supports Linux ( Linux at IBM ). IBM already uses Linux in a critical area ( IBM bets 2.9 Billion on Linux for semiconductor manufacture ).

Film industry

  • DreamWorks uses Linux to produce its animated films such as Shrek , Spirit, Stallion of the Cimarron ( GFX: DreamWorks Feature Linux and Animation , Linux Dreamworks Redux ) or the recent Sinbad: Legend of the Seven Seas ( Linux plays big role in Sinbad ).
  • Disney also announced in June 2002 its intention to use Linux for its films.
  • The films Titanic , Star Trek , Star Wars Episode II: Attack of the Clones and Scooby-Doo also benefited from the performance of Linux ( Linux invades American animation studios , Linux and Star Trek ).

Personal Digital Assistants (PDA)

Several PDAs can be equipped with Linux (the whole range of PALMs ). Some models are delivered, as standard, with Linux as the operating system: for example YOPY from Samsung and Zaurus from Sharp .

The field of embedded software

The undisputed leader in this field is TRON , an open source operating system developed by the Japanese Ken Sakamura. Its software is in the microprocessors of telephones, faxes and digital cameras.

Video game consoles

Sony is considering integrating GNU / Linux in its next products, for example PlayStation 3 (PS3) ( PlayStation 3 may run on Linux ). In addition, an initiative to switch the PS2 to Linux is already in place and supported by a website .