Comments on: Cuba launches its own Linux distro: Nova

By: Chip

Chip — Mon, 04 May 2009 18:47:58 +0000

es una broma

By: gUrroz

gUrroz — Sun, 03 May 2009 23:45:47 +0000

“No va” in Spanish means, literally, “it doesn’t go.” We agree on that. But “Nova,” a single word, is the Latin word for “new.” The corresponding Spanish word is “Nuevo” or “Nueva”, which means, right, “NEW.” No one in a Spanish-speaking country (any Romance-language speaker) would confuse “Nova” with “No va.”

By: Sampi

Sampi — Sat, 14 Feb 2009 05:33:20 +0000

You simply cannot build something that is closed source and based on GPL software at the same time. Cuba can monitor internet activity regardless of the OS.
Weather you are a red blood communist, an imperialist pig or just apolitical I think we should all be happy Linux is becoming more popular and used worldwide.

By: Chip

Chip — Fri, 13 Feb 2009 16:27:41 +0000

That’s an interesting question. Makes me wonder whether Cuba will make all of the source to Nova available, because anyone who has all the sources could find and remove any barriers it contains. I believe it’s possible under the GPL to distribute the source to the Linux kernel, but keep the rest of the OS sources closed, if they so choose. And who’s going to make them abide by the rules of the GPL if they decide to build something completely closed based on Linux?

By: Florsie

Florsie — Fri, 13 Feb 2009 01:39:30 +0000

I’m no genius regarding actual coding and programming, so what I’m about to say might be absolutely stupid. Ok, Cuba is also well known for monitoring the activity of their people online. Many cuban bloggers faced possible arrest after an attempted gathering. I’m sure Stallman wouldn’t be for building tools that might help the government see what their people is doing and therefore haltering their freedom of speech. But what if the Cuban government is also looking for an excuse to control from the OS what the people are doing? I know this can be done by blocking webpages, just like they did in China. Like I said, I’m not sure how easily this can be done on Linux.