OLinux: What was the group behind the Linuxdevices.com inicialy? What were the main objective?

Rick Lehrbaum: I founded LinuxDevices.com in November, 1999, based on what I perceived to be a lack of support for Linux being used in embedded system applications -- i.e. non-desktop, non-server applications where the system is not considered a computer but acts more like an intelligent appliance.

OLinux: How is Linuxdevices.com organized? Try to give us an idea of how Linuxdevices.com works? How is the coordination and manage (servers, directories, contribution, staff)? How many people are involved? What are the main problems?

Rick Lehrbaum: Today, LinuxDevices.com is part of ZDNet and is devoted to the use of Linux in "devices" and in "embedded systems." We have a larger set of Linux resources at ZDNet. The other ZDNet Linux resources are:

• The ZDNet Linux Resource Center -- http://www.zdnet.com/linux/ -- "Linux Central" at ZDNet, featuring general Linux business & technology news, commentary, reviews, forums, and help.
• Linux Hardware Database -- http://lhd.zdnet.com -- the best place on the web to find information about Linux-compatible hardware and drivers.
• Appwatch -- http://appwatch.zdnet.com -- the web's leading open source downloads site. (You probably know that Appwatch was founded by a Brazilian, JD Rowell, who is continuing as its producer.

All these ZDNet resources are part of a common Linux initiative at ZDNet and we share resources and staff. Now that CNET and ZDNet have merged (= "CNET Networks"), we also are working closely with CNET's Linux Center ( http://cnet.com/linux/ ).

OLinux: Is the Linuxdevices.com content based only on Linux technologies?

Rick Lehrbaum: No. We also include relevant content that we feel will be interesting to developers of devices based on Linux. This includes hardware, chips, software, services, tools, etc., and sometimes even competing (but similar) technologies such as QNX.

OLinux: How does the Linuxdevices.com get the articles? Is there a partnership with some kind of news provider or the companies sent the new Linux releases?

Rick Lehrbaum: As mentioned we receive a lot of content from the ZDNet/CNET networks. We also invite the Embedded Linux Community to contribute content.

There are buttons in our navigation tool at the top of every page for community posting of news, articles, links, etc. For example, post news here: http://www.linuxdevices.com/cgi-bin/news_post.cgi

Links can be posted here: http://www.linuxdevices.com/cgi-bin/link_post.cgi

We also invite all companies with products that serve the Embedded Linux Market to submit free product listings (500 words, maximum). That posting is done here: http://www.linuxdevices.com/cgi-bin/product_post.cgi

I consider LinuxDevices.com to be a community resource -- devoted to the Embedded Linux Community. My goal is to serve the needs of the community and make LinuxDevices.com the most useful resource on the web devoted to Embedded Linux and Linux-based "devices".

OLinux: How is the Linux devices market? Do you think this devices are going to be successful in the market in the future? Could you explains us why?

Rick Lehrbaum: Linux will be successful in the embedded market for several key reasons:

• Open source is believed to produce superior software
• The Linux kernel is highly modular and scalable
• Linux provides support for the very latest technologies
• Linux is now CPU "agnostic" -- there are many CPUs supported, not just x86 anymore
• Linux is robust and reliable
• Linux is free from the burden of per-device royalties
• Linux is the *only* operating system that is available from multiple sources
• Many companies are sick of being overly dependent on proprietary embedded operating system suppliers

We have *many* articles at LinuxDevices.com about the benefits and advantages of Linux in the embedded market in "The Embedded Linux Introduction and Overview Quick Reference Guide", which is located here: http://www.linuxdevices.com/articles/AT9888936014.html

OLinux: What improvements and support are needed to make Linux devices a wide world platform?

Rick Lehrbaum: Some increased standardization would, in my opinion, be useful to Linux becoming a worldwide platform for embedded devices. However, there is also the advantage of choice -- so the lack of standards for things like graphics, windowing environments, etc., won't stop Linux from spreading. Linux is well on its way to becoming the #1 embedded operating system. I believe the data will show it to be #2, behind Wind River's VxWorks, by the end of 2001, and with a growth rate that will make Embedded Linux surpass VxWorks during 2002.