Why should we teach students Linux??

[Tony Alfrey]

Net Llama! wrote:
> On Tue, 6 Mar 2007, Bob Hemus wrote:
>> On Tue, 2007-03-06 at 21:17 -0500, Net Llama! wrote:
>>> On Tue, 6 Mar 2007, Bob Hemus wrote:
>>>> I know a bunch of you fellas have little or no use for Govment types,
>>>> but it was Debian that they chose for the Moon Rovers.  Tying up a gob
>>>> of $$$ on winders just wasn't a choice, I suppose.
>>> Which moon rovers are you referring to?
>>>
>> The last two, the pair.  Initially they had some kinda problem, but were
>> able to sort it out.  I believe they are still operating?  You think
>> they culda sorted out a M$ problem 240,000 miles away?
> 
> I'm pretty sure that they're not running Linux or any OTS OS.  I think 
> I remember reading that they were running some embedded custom OS.  NASA 
> does, however, use Linux alot on workstations & servers, and its usually 
> Fedora Core, not Debian.
> 
> 

A Google search yields:

The operating systems running on Spirit and Opportunity are based on a 
flexible commercial platform initially chosen by JPL engineers for its 
reliability.

"[JPL] needed the tools to be able to develop their mission software on 
a system from someone with a proven track record," explained Steven 
Blackman, director of business development for aerospace and defense for 
the software company Wind River. The Alameda, California-based company 
developed the VxWorks real-time operating system used in aboard the MER 
rovers, as well as other NASA and European Space Agency missions.

-- 
Tony Alfrey
tonyalfrey at earthlink.net
"I'd Rather Be Sailing"