Linus plots road ahead for Linux

Linus Torvalds outlined a roadmap for future Linux development at a users conference in San Francisco this week.

Torvalds called for a deviation from the practice of putting Linux on ever-larger computers and suggested that more time be spent developing for smaller networked devices like mobile phones. He added that although the desktop is still a goal, it will take time to develop the number of applications that users need.

He also pledged to speed up the development of the next Linux upgrade. The last upgrade - to kernel 2.2 - took two-and-a-half years, which Torvalds said was far too long. The next version is due before the end of the year.

Martin Brampton, research director at Bloor Research, said Torvalds suggestions about networked devices is a jarring change of direction, particularly given the fierce competition in that market from the likes of Sun, Microsoft and Symbian. "Linux has already made huge inroads in the top-end server market, and workstations are advancing with projects like Gnome," he said.

Brampton added: "I sometimes find his judgements rather eccentric, and he may be wrong about the commercial issues for Linux. I think companies like Red Hat, Compaq, Dell, IBM and Oracle - who have the marketing money to spend on Linux - will be more influential about its commercial direction than Linus himself."