Desktop Linux gets major boost and funding

The formation committee of the non-profit organisation, which has been endorsed by Linux creator, Linus Torvalds, includes Linux distributors such as SuSE and Debian and open source applications providers such as OpenOffice.org and KDE.

Jeremy White, chief executive of member company, CodeWeavers, who will act as DLC's interim chairperson, said: “The initial intentions for the DLC are very clear. Linux is firmly established in the server space, and now desktop Linux is coming of age. The goal of the DLC is to amplify the depth, breadth, and speed of Linux adoption in the enormous desktop computer market.”

Bruce Perens, a long-time Linux developer and open source community leader, will also become interim executive director.

The DLC hopes to boost adoption of Linux on the desktop by increasing awareness of its potential benefits. The body intends to do this by putting on trade shows and conferences and will sponsor various public relations-oriented activities and programs to help support its cause.

But the organisation would appear to have an uphill struggle to make any impact on the sector. According to the latest figures from market researchers IDC, Linux had gained a mere two per cent share of the desktop market in 2001 compared with Microsoft's massive 94 per cent.

As a step towards world domination, however, the founding companies plan to determine the DLC's board make up and organisational charter within 90 days.

Membership will be open to all companies and open source organisations that provide products relating to desktop Linux, and funding will be based on a sliding scale of annual dues, which will vary depending on the financial status of the member organisation concerned.

Microsoft was unavailable to comment. µ