Re: open source the IBM i kernel. Was: Why i??? NEED YOUR INPUT

[Buck <kc2hiz@xxxxxxxxx>]

On 2/26/2010 10:34 AM, Steve Richter wrote:

> I don't know what is kernel and what is vertical microcode. Release
> the RPG compiler, all the workstation stuff, ILE, work management,
> program call stack. Would be fun as a hobbyist to be able to get at
> the SLS and expand the 16meg segment size of the system. No point in
> releasing DB2, but do release the parts of the OS that couple a
> database to the system.   The system is fading away. We have all seen
> AS400 shops shut down and their valuable home grown software
> applications deleted from existance. That should not be the fate of
> IBM i.

Let's perform a thought experiment.  I have an ERP package that runs my
business.  It runs on IBM i.  IBM _does_ open source i5/OS, the RPG
compiler, etc.  My 19 year old niece _does_ hack some new code into them
and releases the changes into the wild.

Tell me how to convince my boss to let me install the open i and open
RPG compiler.

We can leave for another thread whether the open source efforts are
forks of the IBM effort, or whether IBM should simply fire all the IBM i
developers and leave the platform to fend for itself.
  --buck