MozillaQuest the on-line computer magazine

July 31, 2002

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Mandrake Linux 9.0 Beta 1 Available Now -- 9.0 in September

Mike Angelo -- 31 July 2002 (C)

MandrakeSoft Says Yes to LSB but No to Netscape and UnitedLinux

Mandrake Linux is on the move from its current 8.2 edition up to a new level, Mandrake Linux 9.0. The first beta of the upcoming Mandrake Linux 9.0 distribution now is available for public downloading and enjoyment. Look for the final Mandrake Linux 9.0 release sometime in September 2002.

KDE (K Desktop Environment)

K (K because K comes before L for Linux)

GNOME (GNU Object Model Environment)

GNU (GNU is Not UNIX -- intentionally recursive)

Mandrake Linux is a very popular Linux distribution, particularly among people interested in an easy to use desktop Linux. The new 9.0 edition will feature the KDE 3.0.2 and the GNOME 2.0 windows-like-desktop graphical user interfaces (GUIs).

According to a 23 July 2002 Mandrake announcement, Mandrake 9.0 will be based upon the 2.4.19 RC1 Linux kernel and feature:

XFree86 4.2
glibc 2.2.5
Apache 1.3.26
Evolution 1.08
KDE 3.0.2
GNOME 2.0
Galeon 1.2.5
Mozilla 1.0.0
GCC 3.1.1

and lots more.

Gaël Duval is the founder of Mandrake Linux and co-founder of MandrakeSoft SA and MandrakeSoft, Inc. In an e-mail discussion, Gaël Duval told MozillaQuest Magazine that Mandrake 9.0 is planned to be released in September.

We also discussed Mandrake's involvement with the Linux Standard Base (LSB) project, non-involvement with United Linux, and Mandrake dropping Netscape from its Linux distribution and replacing it with Mozilla 1.0. Although Mandrake 9.0 will not be fully LSB compliant, Mandrake is moving in the direction of full compliance with the LSB. Mandrake will not participate in United Linux. And MandrakeSoft has dropped Netscape from its Mandrake Linux distribution.

LSB Mission Statement

The goal of the Linux Standard Base (LSB) is to develop and promote a set of standards that will increase compatibility among Linux distributions and enable software applications to run on any compliant Linux system. In addition, the LSB will help coordinate efforts to recruit software vendors to port and write products for Linux.

(Linuxbase.org)

MozillaQuest Magazine: Mandrake plans to be LSB compliant eventually, is that correct?

Gaël Duval: Of course, that's our goal.

However, there are technical issues that remain to be resolved. So, Mandrake does not have a precise timetable for achieving full LSB compliance. Gaël Duval mentioned that Mandrake might publish a special "LSB" release in the future, maybe with updates, to make sure the product is as solid as possible.

MozillaQuest Magazine: Why do you feel it is important for Mandrake Linux to (eventually) be LSB compliant?

Gaël Duval: It's not only Mandrake; I think it's important for all the biggest Linux distributors to provide LSB-compliant products. Then it makes life easier for software publishers and users - and it finally gives more power to Linux to dominate the market and go mainstream.

While Gaël Duval is very positive about the LSB project and bringing Mandrake Linux into full LSB compliance, he has a very different view towards the United Linux endeavor.

Note: United Linux: why MandrakeSoft will not join, the document to which Gaël Duval refers, is an excellent and very informative statement of Mandrake's position on the United Linux endeavor. If you use Linux or merely are interested in Linux, you ought to read Mandrake's United Linux position statement.

What is UnitedLinux?

UnitedLinux is a standards-based, worldwide Linux solution targeted at the business user and developed by Caldera, Conectiva, SuSE, and Turbolinux. Designed to be an enterprise-class, industry-standard Linux operating system, UL provides a single stable, uniform platform for application development, certification, and deployment and allows Linux vendors, Independent Software Vendors (ISVs), and Independent Hardware Vendors (IHVs) to support a single high value Linux offering rather than many different versions.

(UnitedLinux FAQs)

MozillaQuest Magazine: How will Mandrake 9.0 fit in with United Linux? Will Mandrake 9.0 be part of United Linux?

Gaël Duval: "No. We've decided not to join United Linux for several reasons that are explained in United Linux: why MandrakeSoft will not join.

MozillaQuest Magazine: Will Mandrake 9.0 comply with the United Linux specs?

Gaël Duval: No.

MozillaQuest Magazine: Mandrake 9.0 will have Mozilla 1.0. However, I did not notice anything about Netscape. Is Mandrake dropping Netscape?

Gaël Duval: It's been dropped. MandrakeSoft is a company that is committed to Free-Software. That's the reason why we replace proprietary software by Free Software when it's possible. Mandrake Linux, the core product that comes as a 3 CD-Set and available for download, now comes without any proprietary software.

For those of you who do not have the bandwidth to download Mandrake 9.0 Beta 1, the Mandrake folks have been kind enough to provide some screen shots of it for you.

Or, for those of you who do have lots of bandwidth, you can download Mandrake 9.0 Beta 1 from the Mandrake download site. Enjoy.

Stay tuned.