Santa Cruz, CA — (press release excerpt) — As major computer hardware and software vendors intensify efforts to establish the Linux operating system's desktop foothold, the security and reliability of the open source software continues to earn high praise, a new survey of Linux software developers finds.

The Evans Data Summer 2002 Linux Developer Survey reports that the open source operating system's inherent security and reliability are among the attributes most valued by developers. The in-depth interviews with more than 400 developers actively engaged in Linux work confirmed that occurrences of viruses and hacker attacks within the Linux environment are relatively scarce. Even more importantly, developers believe that security can be more effectively maintained with open source software than with proprietary operating systems controlled by a single commercial interest.

According to the new study, fielded in July 2002, an overwhelming majority (94.2%) of Linux developers say their Linux system has not been infected with a virus while more than 75% have never had their Linux system hacked.

Linux security is approached differently than other operating systems because of its open source nature. The survey found that the methods for implementing security in Linux rated most highly by developers were codified best practices, code reviews and formal methods. Linux developers believe an open and formalized set of procedures can find and address flaws in security measures much more efficiently than a single commercial entity's ability to debug its OS's.

The Linux Developer Survey includes over 200 pages of data on language use, hardware trends, platform standards, tools, application development, technology adoption and more. This study is an excellent resource for vendors to help them create products that will be useful, desirable and readily accepted in the Linux development marketplace.

Other key findings from the new survey:

• More than half of Linux developers believe Web services will be a pervasive force in the future. But the survey also showed that developers increasingly expect the impact of Web services on Open Source software development to be minimal.
• Linux developers are beginning to adopt the 64-bit computer architecture. About half of the developers believe it is absolutely or probably important that their company address this architecture, a 12% jump in the likelihood of adoption since the last survey.
• The most prevalent apps being planned for Linux next year are apps for internal corporate use, Web-based apps or ASPs, and Web portals.

 
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