- Saturday, 21 November 2009
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I'm with you on the free press. It's the newspapers I can't stand - Tom Stoppard
Skype will go open source on Linux
THE FREE VOIP AND CHAT service Skype announced yesterday that it's developing an open source version of its client software that runs under Linux.
Skype developer Stanislav Karchebny (whose screen name is Berkus), said in a blog post, "Yes, there's an open source version of Linux client being developed. This will be a part of a larger offering, but we can't tell you much about that right now."
Although Skype has confirmed that the user interface will go open sauce, customers expressed concerns in comments on the announcement that Skype's Internet protocol software might remain closed.
"Having an open-source user interface will help us get adopted in the multicultural land of Linux distributions, as well as on other platforms, and will speed up further development. We will update you once more details are available," said Karchebny.
Comments from Skype's customer services reportedly suggest that the open source version will be available in the "nearest future", however users are already asking the company to name a date.
The Skype client software for Linux came out in 2004. µ
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Given the quality of the Skype UI on linux, especially how it interfaces with the soundcard, it's good to see that finally people can do something about it.
It really doesn't have good integration with the desktop environment.
After trying skype on linux, I resorted to running it in a virtual machine...
It appears that only the GUI will be open source, the underlying Skype protocol library will remain closed.
Not sure what the point of doing this is, really.
I actually prefer Linux interface layout without disturbing popups :)
The desktop integration should be really improved.
What is the point? Do you complain that your wireless drivers have binary blobs so that people can't hack the signal strength and launch DOS while war driving? How about companies like Oracle, VMWare, Epic, and others who release binary only bits of code to hide company secrets and proprietary code?
JFC people. This is exactly what we needed, and it's ALL we needed. We don't need the source code to the communications part of the code. The Skype Protocol is not at fault, is proprietary, and for your sake and mine, should not be ever made public.
I see a problem here.
Companies like Canonical will put in a huge effort to build a UI for Skype, only to be told they can't package it in the OS because of patents and licencing restrictions in the underlying protocol.
What's the point?
Maybe the first thing they'll do to the UI is add SIP support by default and make the Skype protocol a seperate download in multiverse. That would be all too funny.
I don't even use Skype anyway.