Writing for ZDNet UK, Matthew Broersma interviews the new Linux kernel maintainer about opportunities for Linux in applications big and small, and explains why UnitedLinux is a good idea . . .

” . . . Marcelo Tosatti, a Brazilian developer working for Linux distributor Conectiva, took over maintenance of the current “stable” Linux kernel, version 2.4, last autumn. He took over from Alan Cox, a major figure in the Linux community and long-time maintainer . . . “

” . . . Are things much more difficult for you as a programmer now that you're maintaining the kernel?

It was much, much easier (before). Because before I could say, oh, I want to do this, or I have to do this. I could work on one area (of the kernel). Now I receive one page which touches VM, and then the next page which I read two minutes later touches on ACPI, and the next page touches on drivers. So I can't really have a mindset any more, because I have to work on so many different things. It's very difficult . . . “

” . . . What are the challenges ahead for Linux?

We need to get ordinary people used to using Linux. It isn't that it's so hard to use, it's just different. People say Linux is hard to install, but if you gave somebody Windows and had them install it, not everybody would be able to do that . . . “

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