Linux Journal closes.

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wazzageek

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#254355 8-Aug-2019 13:55

Just got this email:

IMPORTANT NOTICE FROM LINUX JOURNAL, LLC:

On August 7, 2019 Linux Journal shut its doors for good. All staff were laid off and the company is left with no operating funds to continue in any capacity. The web site will continue to stay up for the next few weeks, hopefully longer for archival purposes if we can make it happen.

–Linux Journal, LLC

Sad to see, as it really seemed that they were back operational and providing some really good indepth articles. It was only 2 short years ago that the same message came through.

openmedia

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#2292310 8-Aug-2019 14:04

I was a subscriber to the old physical edition for a great many years. Loved the magazine and I was even interviewed for them at one point.

Very sad to see them go

Generally known online as OpenMedia, now working for Red Hat APAC as a Technology Evangelist and Portfolio Architect. Still playing with MythTV and digital media on the side.

MikeB4

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#2292312 8-Aug-2019 14:10

A sign of the times for magazines in general and a sign of the times for Linux. I think the next twenty four months is going to see a lot of casualties in Linux land. We have already seen distros sold and distros shuttered and this alas is going to continue. It is my humble opinion that it is going to be a rough period for desktop linux in particular and we will see some big players fade away and some refocus away from the desktop to focus on server side and infrastructure.

wazzageek

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#2292318 8-Aug-2019 14:17

Given the prevalence and usability of the various Android and iOS devices, I’m not sure “desktop Linux” will really break any serious ground.

Given that “news” is distributed for free in many avenues, quality journalism isn’t really valued any more - so it’s not surprising, but is saddening.

gzt

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#2292383 8-Aug-2019 15:32

Android is based on the Linux kernel and Android mobile is practically a desktop for many people ; )

But seriously, Linux base desktop memory management needs to improve for average users with average machines.

gzt

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#2292388 8-Aug-2019 15:38

If they only lasted a couple of days longer they would have outlived msdn magazine:

https://msdn.microsoft.com/magazine/mt833502

SirHumphreyAppleby

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#2292399 8-Aug-2019 15:58

MikeB4:

A sign of the times for magazines in general and a sign of the times for Linux. I think the next twenty four months is going to see a lot of casualties in Linux land. We have already seen distros sold and distros shuttered and this alas is going to continue. It is my humble opinion that it is going to be a rough period for desktop linux in particular and we will see some big players fade away and some refocus away from the desktop to focus on server side and infrastructure.

Desktop computing is on the decline, sadly. Windows and MacOS just work, Linux never achieved a level of usability required by the average user.

A few less players in the desktop market would be a good thing IMO. At least then there will be a chance for the platform to mature to the point of actually being usable.

For servers, I'm sticking with *BSD.

MikeB4

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#2292407 8-Aug-2019 16:22

It's significant that on the Ubuntu website the desktop edition is almost an after thought after makes me think that Canonical will move the desktop to the community much like Fedora. However I think Chrome OS is the Linux desktop of the future.

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gzt

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#2292628 8-Aug-2019 22:14

MikeB4: However I think Chrome OS is the Linux desktop of the future.

I think you're right and we're not there yet. Although I think you've just inspired me to experiment with Chromium OS.

Also I learned of Solus today. Specific focus on user experience + Solus uses a stable rolling release model. A stable rolling release is more likely to stay on my desktop longer than an LTS.

nzkc

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#2292637 8-Aug-2019 23:16

gzt:

MikeB4: However I think Chrome OS is the Linux desktop of the future.

I think you're right and we're not there yet. Although I think you've just inspired me to experiment with Chromium OS.

I thought this was the case a couple of years ago (or more). Now I think Android is the linux desktop of the future. And I get the impression Google does too given that they've started allowing Android apps on Chrome OS.

MikeB4

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#2292734 9-Aug-2019 07:20

@gzt Grab a copy of Neverware Cloud ready and give it a try, it works off the flash drive without install quite well but of course not as well as an install. You wont get the Play Store with it though.

@nzkc Android itself will not be a desktop OS without extensive changes, it is barely a tablet OS. Chrome OS is a different story and is a viable desktop OS. There is Fushia OS in Googles future as well.

MikeB4

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#2292736 9-Aug-2019 07:32

SirHumphreyAppleby:

MikeB4:

A sign of the times for magazines in general and a sign of the times for Linux. I think the next twenty four months is going to see a lot of casualties in Linux land. We have already seen distros sold and distros shuttered and this alas is going to continue. It is my humble opinion that it is going to be a rough period for desktop linux in particular and we will see some big players fade away and some refocus away from the desktop to focus on server side and infrastructure.

Desktop computing is on the decline, sadly. Windows and MacOS just work, Linux never achieved a level of usability required by the average user.

A few less players in the desktop market would be a good thing IMO. At least then there will be a chance for the platform to mature to the point of actually being usable.

For servers, I'm sticking with *BSD.

I would not be sad if Distrowatch listed just ten very good distributions only. Fragmentation has been the enemy of Linux Desktop.

JWR

821 posts

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#2293836 11-Aug-2019 00:02

FWIW, the paywall has been removed from the Linux Journal site.

The last several years of issues are available for download at Linux Journal Archive

Radiotron

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#2310274 3-Sep-2019 20:31

Sad to find out out things didn't work out for them, and I was about to get a sub - back to a bit of tinkering after a hiatus. Bought the treeware copies for a long time when a bit religious about Slackware. Still have several machines about running Slackware and Mint - the latter is a bit friendlier to laptops, esp certain Sony VAIOs.