Open source operating systems in libraries: research in context.(Chapter 2)

Prior to 1999, mentions of any open source operating system in mainstream library literature like LibraryLit, ERIC, or LISTA were hard to find. Linux might have been everywhere at Comdex or the consumer electronics exhibition, (1) but no one was writing about using Linux, OpenBSD, or FreeBSD for desktop computing in a public setting. (OpenBSD and FreeBSD are still difficult to find anywhere in library literature.) In 1999, mentions of Linux started to appear, albeit sparsely. Daniel Chudnov wrote about open source software generally and suggested that the open source model offered greater freedom for libraries to make improvements to their software. (2) Robin Peek questioned whether Linux might challenge Windows in more general terms, citing reliability issues with Windows as a reason for looking at Linux. (3) Gordon Hoke questioned whether Linux might make a suitable operating system for a document management system. (4) He cited the advantages of a free, open source operating system, but at that time Linux still seemed a possibility for the future, rather than the present. Nevertheless, Linux was picking up steam, bolstered by support from computer industry giants like IBM. (5)

By 2000, the literature was listing plenty of evidence that Linux was making headway as a server operating system, and also that there was more general interest in open source software. Roy Tennant started out the year writing about open source software in Library Journal. (6) Various product announcements included new support service for Linux. Ex Libris announced support service for Linux in March. (7) Innovative Interfaces also announced support service for Linux that year. (8) Libraries were beginning to use Linux, but mostly for server applications. Simon Bains and Howard Richardson wrote about CD-ROM networking with Linux at City University, London. (9) Hoke wrote about Linux again in EoDoc, (10) and Doug Johnston wrote about using Linux for …