Fedora 11 Review

12 June, 2009 - by Todd Robinson
Systems Development Engineer
Webpath Technologies & On-Disk.com
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1. Introduction
2. First Impressions
3. Exploring Fedora 11 and Post Install Setup
4. Exploring Portability
5. Conclusion

Introduction:

For those who have seen my past reviews, you've probably already figured out that I don't even bother to write a review unless there is something spectacular or culture changing to write about. This review of Fedora 11 is not an exception.

Before I continue, I think it's important to put things in proper context, so for those not familiar with the Fedora Project I'll give a brief rundown. The Fedora project is partially funded, in various ways, by Red Hat and produces the core of what eventually ends up as the Redhat Enterprise Linux operating system. In fact, Fedora was previously known as "Fedora Core".

Fedora lives and breathes the 4 Fs: Freedom, Friends, Features, First. They have a very good rendering of these core principals at the Fedora Project Website, but my experiences are a bit more personal. From my perspective:

Freedom represents their dedication to open software, which also extends to open content. The Fedora Project and community are very insistent on remaining transparent in everything they do. Everything the Fedora Project does is documented online...and I mean everything. Transcripts of IRC meetings, emails sent to their various Email lists, etc. In fact there is so much information about the project, the operating system, and various projects within the scope of all that is Fedora that it's sometimes difficult to cut through it all to find what you are looking for, but it's a small price to pay for having absolutely everything openly available online.

Friends, according to the official Fedora description, represents the strength of their community. In my experience it expands well beyond this. It's about real people interacting and doing real world activities together, as well as volunteering and working together on various Fedora related projects. Of course it's the Freedom aspect which draws many of us together, but I find it also extends to our philosophical views of the world, not just software. I feel this is why many are so deeply dedicated to Fedora and their core principals. Through our (On-Disk.com) activities in the Open Source community we have met many people who volunteer and work for the Fedora Project. These folks don't do it for the money, or fame, but out of a much deeper commitment and belief that the technologies they help develop and promote should belong to the entire human race, not one particular person or company entity.

Features, features, features, features, and more features. Bringing innovation to a usable state is Fedora's purpose for being. It's fair to say nobody has done it better, or pushed the envelope of Linux and Open Source further than Fedora. Every new release offers new cutting-edge technologies that are quickly absorbed into the bloodstream of the Linux and Open Source community, feeding new possibilities and features throughout.

First is to simply not wait around for someone else to figure it out, but to actively work on ideas and concepts even if it they are not yet viable. Viable solutions don't present themselves, they are developed by someone, and the Fedora community is more often than not the ones who are leading the charge. I've watched volunteers take raw ideas and just make it happen. This happens often enough in Fedora development that I can't even remember the last time I heard someone say something just couldn't be done...it's not in their vocabulary. You might hear, "not yet", but not that it can't be done.

As I get ready for the review of Fedora 11, I would just like to send a heart-felt Thank you to the Fedora project and their community for their hard work and commitment...I tip my hat to all of you.

Now on with the review!

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