Embedded Systems Design - June 2008 - (Page 51)

tackle without their help? Due to the nature of open source, these compafrom page 12 nies might fold tomorrow and developers would continue to put Linux in programming.” I can understand that their devices just as well. Could the Mr. O’Dowd wants to downplay the same be said about Integrity if Green competition, but he actually may have Hills were to fold tomorrow? done more damage to his own image Of course, there has to be a survey and that of his company by resorting thrown in for good measure, so I’ll to scare tactics, out of context and contribute one, too (www.linuxde partial quotes, and exaggerations invices.com/news/NS4920597981.html). stead of some real, solid arguments. It’s well known that anyone can make Since he is CEO of a company that a survey say what they want it to say. makes a product called Integrity, I had The one I found says Linexpected more from ux is the most popular him. embedded operating sysMontaVista and MontaVista and Wind River Systems tem for the fourth year Wind River Systems are are both companies that are trying to running. The one Mr. both companies that are O’Dowd quotes says less trying to make money make money off of software people are considering usoff of software that is that is available for free. ing Linux because more available for free. How How can they convince people are actually using it (those can they convince people are separate survey opto pay them money for to pay them money for something tions . . . get it?). Doesn’t something that is free? that is free? sound to me like we’re By offering extra tools talking about a “dwinand services, and by ofdling number of disenfering their expertise. It chanted embedded Linux users” as loaded on the board and ready to is much easier to sell your tools if you Mr. O’Dowd claims. By the way, what run. Making the work that Moncan make your potential customers taVista does, and the work that some- are the stats on Green Hills’ embedded believe that the tools that are freely operating system? The article has all one making a Linux product has to available are inadequate. It is also the twisted information, exaggerado, sound as if they are the same much easier to sell your expertise if tions, and other telltale signs of something is more than a stretch. I won’t you can make your potential cusone who is desperately trying to tear tomers believe that something is difﬁ- even comment on the Wind River down the competition. Is fair compe“CHAOS” ad. I have seen the ad and cult. These marketing messages are tition not doing it for Green Hills anytalking about only half of it and not intended to beneﬁt the respective more? the other half should make it clear companies; they are not intended to —Patrick Van Oosterwijck how genuinely Mr. O’Dowd is intershow Linux in the most favorable Senior Software Engineer ested in being fair. light. After all, how would you conEcoWater Systems As to his claim that these compavince anyone to pay you money if you would advertise that embedded Linux nies are in trouble and somehow See Jim Ready’s (MontaVista Software) equating that to embedded Linux beis a breeze? The marketing departGuest Editor column “Embedded Linux ing in trouble, this argument would ments of these companies have to has more friends than you may know” only sway those who are ignorant thread a ﬁne line in promoting Linux online at www.embedded.com/columns/ about how open source works. Unforwhile at the same time convincing guest/207602734) tunately, this is still a large percentage people that it isn’t easy, and that they of developers, so that’s why I thought will need help with it. it important to send this response. If Mr. O’Dowd takes these moderWe welcome your feedback. Letters to the these companies aren’t making as ately “negative” marketing messages editor may be edited. Send your comments to Richard Nass at rnass@techinsights.com much money as they hoped, could it and twists them into such strong or post your comments instantly online, be that it’s because embedded Linux is statements as “terrible,” “horrors,” under the article you wish to discuss. To simple enough for most companies to “monster,” and “nightmare.” I’m sorpost comments online, you must sign in. ry, but I haven’t seen these words used by the companies he is basing his rant on. I haven’t read the complete MontaVista article he quotes, but it seems to be highlighting the work they have to do in order to support many architectures and software packages to make a full distribution. If you’re using Linux to develop a product, you are using a single architecture and a select set of packages. Often, your development board even comes with a Linux dev kit and Linux Parity bit www.embedded.com | embedded systems design | JUNE 2008 51 http://www.linuxdevices.com/news/NS4920597981.html http://www.linuxdevices.com/news/NS4920597981.html http://www.embedded.com/columns/guest/207602734 http://www.embedded.com/columns/guest/207602734 http://www.embedded.com

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of Embedded Systems Design - June 2008

Embedded Systems Design - June 2008 Contents #Include Party Bit Programmer's Toolbox Cover Feature: Virtual Hardware Platforms for Embedded Software Validation Allocating Memory in MATLAB-to-C Code MDD and IDEs: Making the Twain Meet in Embedded Systems Design Avoid a Thrashing Guest Editor Advertising Index Break Points Marketplace

Embedded Systems Design - June 2008

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