Linux Foundation Unveils New Linux.com

Linux Foundation Unveils New Linux.com

For the community, by the community, Linux Foundation launches framework to connect Linux users and developers and find the next “Ultimate Linux Guru”

SAN FRANCISCO, May 13, 2009 — The Linux Foundation (LF), the nonprofit organization dedicated to accelerating the growth of Linux, today announced the formal launch of Linux.com. The Foundation took over stewardship of the site in March, at which time it began soliciting input from the community to help define the new Linux.com via its Ideaforge web tool. Today, it unveils the results of that input and a new online home for all things Linux.

The new Linux.com will connect Linux users and developers, and by showcasing their skills through its guru listing, will connect individuals to jobs and collaboration opportunities. Instead of a static information site, the new Linux.com will empower the Linux community to share its knowledge, get questions answered, download the right software and find hardware to solve problems.

Visitors can register today and immediately begin contributing to the community and build their Linux guru standing. Other community functionality includes allowing users to have their own blog hosted by Linux.com, review products in the product directory, and submit “HowTo’s” and tutorials to help their fellow Linux users or developers.

Ultimate Linux Guru Wins a Dream Linux Machine Signed by Torvalds
Users can earn points toward becoming a “Linux Guru” by participating in different activities on the site. Each year, the top Linux.com user will be recognized as the “Ultimate Linux Guru” and be given a fully loaded “dream” Linux notebook personally signed by Linus Torvalds as recognition of his or her guru status. The top five contributors to Linux.com annually will receive invitations to the Linux Foundation Collaboration Summit and have a seat at the Linux.com planning meeting as community representatives. And, the top 50 annual Linux gurus on Linux.com will be included in a yearly report from the Linux Foundation: those high ranking users will be able to showcase their status and knowledge to potential employers or consulting opportunities. More information, including “Guru” point values, is available at the site.

“Code and online participation is the new resume, and we want Linux.com to provide a framework for Linux experts to help each other and showcase their talent, knowledge and skills and ultimately improve their careers,” said Jim Zemlin, executive director, The Linux Foundation. “We’ve also found that Linux users have a passion for improving the platform. Linux.com is the community’s resource, and the more information that is shared on Linux, the more benefit to all who participate. We think that active participation on Linux.com will result in an easier to use, more robust Linux platform.”

Linux.com is designed to mirror the Linux community process by hosting a collaborative framework where users and developers can connect and increase the collective Linux knowledge and resources for new and advanced users alike. The site is the central source for informed Linux information, software and documentation covering the server, desktop, mobile, and embedded areas. Linux.com also extends the Foundation’s existing content and community programs available at www.linuxfoundation.org.

Major Linux.com features include:

• News
The Linux.com News section features original content and analysis as well as content from Linux Foundation workgroups, including FOSSBazaar and MoblinZone.

• Community
Highlights from the community section include an area where individuals can form or promote Linux and open source related groups. They can connect with other members as well as showcase their events, meet-ups and activities. The event features should prove valuable for users wanting to educate or participate in the Linux community and find conferences, user groups, or other meet-ups in their area.

• Distribution Central
This section showcases original content from each of the community “distros” with contributions directly from representatives from Debian, Fedora, openSUSE and Ubuntu. Community managers and developers such as Jono Bacon, Joe Brockmeier, Paul Frields, Martin Krafft and Karsten Wade will join in conversations to help Linux users understand and use the leading Linux “distros.”

• Learn
Highlights from this section include a centralized repository for Linux Documentation, including Man Pages and “HowTo’s” from the Linux Documentation Project. In this section, users can also post questions or answer other user or developer questions to increase understanding of the Linux platform.

• Directory
The site’s directory is a user-contributed and user-reviewed database of software applications that run on the Linux operating system; Linux-compatible hardware components; and books, hosting, and other professional services available from the Linux ecosystem. This section also aggregates Linux application downloads to create an application store for Linux.

Inaugural Linux.com sponsors include Intel, NetApp, Novell and Red Hat.

About the Linux Foundation
The Linux Foundation is a nonprofit consortium dedicated to fostering the growth of Linux. Founded in 2007, the Linux Foundation sponsors the work of Linux creator Linus Torvalds and is supported by leading Linux and open source companies and developers from around the world. The Linux Foundation promotes, protects and standardizes Linux by providing resources and services that include exclusive events and online collaboration, including LinuxCon and Linux.com. For more information, please visit the Foundation website.

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Trademarks: The Linux Foundation and Linux Standard Base are trademarks of The Linux Foundation. Linux is a trademark of Linus Torvalds. Third party marks and brands are the property of their respective holders.