Linux sees big boost in development rate, sponsorship

Linux is seeing a big boost in its development and sponsorship in recent months, with mobile and embedded companies increasing their investments in it.

 

This was the gist of the Linux Foundation's 2013 report “Linux Kernel Development: How Fast It is Going, Who is Doing It, What They Are Doing and Who is Sponsoring It.”

 

"Mobile and embedded companies are increasing their investments in Linux. Linaro, Samsung and Texas Instruments together increased their aggregate contributions from 4.4 percent during the previous version of the paper to 11 percent of all changes this year. Google’s contributions are also up significantly this year," it said.

 

Google's Android, the world's most popular operating system for mobile devices, is a flavor of the Linux open-source operating system.

 

The foundation noted the "unmatched" rate of Linux development.

 

"The average number of changes accepted into the kernel per hour is 7.14, which translates to 171 changes every day and more than 1,200 per week," it said.

 

This year’s paper covered work completed through Linux kernel 3.10. It follows the April 2012 report, which focused on 2.6.36 to 3.2.

 

Linux Foundation noted nearly 10,000 developers from more than 1,000 companies have contributed to the Linux kernel since tracking began in 2005.

 

"Just since the last report, more than 1,100 developers from 225 companies have contributed to the kernel. In fact, more developers and companies are contributing to Linux than ever before with Linux kernel 3.10 seeing the most developer contributions ever," it noted.

 

Future of software

 

“Linux represents the future of how new software and technologies will be built. Understanding how it’s developed is important to the industry,” said Jim Zemlin, executive director at The Linux Foundation.

 

“This year’s Linux development report represents exponential growth in the community and its pace of development, illustrating how collaboration advances innovation. We are inspired by the work of these thousands of developers and companies that sponsor that work and know they are fueling the future of the technology industry,” he added.

 

Microsoft out

 

Linux Foundation said the Top 10 organizations sponsoring Linux kernel development since the last report include Red Hat, Intel, Texas Instruments, Linaro, SUSE, IBM, Samsung, Google, Vision Engraving Systems Consultants and Wolfson Microelectronics.

 

However, Microsoft, which appeared on the list for the first time in 2012, "notably dropped off the list entirely this year."  — ELR, GMA News