Ubuntu founder Mark Shuttleworth has again called for the developers of major open-source software programs and Linux distributions to synchronize their development and release cycles. He argues that consistent and universal adherence to a specific time-based release model would promote more collaboration between projects, ensure that users have access to the latest improvements to popular applications, and make the Linux platform a more steady and predictable target for commercial software vendors.
Shuttleworth wants to organize major releases into three separate “waves” which would each include different components of the desktop stack. The first wave would include fundamental components like the Linux kernel, the GCC compiler, graphical toolkits like GTK+, and development platforms like Python and Java. The second wave would include the desktop environments and desktop applications, while the third wave would be the distributions.
This really is the only way that Linux can evolve to become a viable choice for most people as a desktop operating system, it would promote growth and innovation in a way that seemingly nothing else can.
