Daniel Robbins
Encyclopedia
Daniel Robbins is a computer programmer and consultant best known as the founder and former chief architect of the Gentoo Linux
project. In 2008, he launched the Funtoo project
, a free
GNU/Linux distribution based on Gentoo, and is the project's lead hacker and organizer. He also currently works at the same time in Albuquerque, New Mexico
, as engineer at OPNET
, and as president for Funtoo Technologies.
in Albuquerque Robbins first came into contact with Linux. He became a developer on Stampede Linux, and later formed his own distribution Enoch Linux, which was later renamed Gentoo
in 2002.
distribution created enormous interest almost immediately. It remains by far the most high-profile source-based Linux distribution, and the quality of its documentation, and friendliness of its forums have been widely praised.
projects, Gentoo struggled to create a business model
which would support its key developers. Robbins resigned as Chief Architect on 26 April 2004, citing considerable personal debt, and a desire to spend more time with his family, formed the Gentoo Foundation and transferred all Gentoo intellectual property
to it, so that Gentoo is now run as a full community-based model. He did rejoin the project for a short time from August 2006, becoming a developer again in February 2007 and joining the amd64 team but resigned in early March 2007.
There have been several high-profile criticisms of the way Gentoo has run since Robbins left, such as: "...since the resignation of Gentoo's founder and benevolent dictator from the project in 2004, the newly established Gentoo Foundation has been battling with lack of clear directions and frequent developer conflicts...", but in mid-July 2007 it emerged that Robbins was still technically the legal president of the Gentoo Foundation:
, a project created to allow him to work on extending the technologies originally created for Gentoo.
, writing well-regarded tutorials for IBM and the Gentoo project, among others.
, in May 2005, attracted attention within the Linux community, which has historically had a combative relationship with Microsoft. He described his role working for Bill Hilf
as "...helping Microsoft to understand Open Source and community-based projects..."
However, Robbins resigned less than a year later on 16 January 2006 due to frustrations that he was unable to fully utilize his technical skills in this position.
.
Gentoo Linux
Gentoo Linux is a computer operating system built on top of the Linux kernel and based on the Portage package management system. It is distributed as free and open source software. Unlike a conventional software distribution, the user compiles the source code locally according to their chosen...
project. In 2008, he launched the Funtoo project
Funtoo
Funtoo is a a free operating system, more precisely a GNU/Linux distribution based on Gentoo, and initiated in 2008 by Daniel Robbins former Gentoo Linux project leader.- History :...
, a free
Free software
Free software, software libre or libre software is software that can be used, studied, and modified without restriction, and which can be copied and redistributed in modified or unmodified form either without restriction, or with restrictions that only ensure that further recipients can also do...
GNU/Linux distribution based on Gentoo, and is the project's lead hacker and organizer. He also currently works at the same time in Albuquerque, New Mexico
Albuquerque, New Mexico
Albuquerque is the largest city in the state of New Mexico, United States. It is the county seat of Bernalillo County and is situated in the central part of the state, straddling the Rio Grande. The city population was 545,852 as of the 2010 Census and ranks as the 32nd-largest city in the U.S. As...
, as engineer at OPNET
OPNET
OPNET Technologies, Inc. is a software business that provides performance analysis for computer networks and applications.The company was founded in 1986 and went public in 2000. It is headquartered in Bethesda, Maryland and has offices in Cary, North Carolina; Nashua, New Hampshire; Dallas,...
, and as president for Funtoo Technologies.
Background
During his time as a system administrator at the University of New MexicoUniversity of New Mexico
The University of New Mexico at Albuquerque is a public research university located in Albuquerque, New Mexico, in the United States. It is the state's flagship research institution...
in Albuquerque Robbins first came into contact with Linux. He became a developer on Stampede Linux, and later formed his own distribution Enoch Linux, which was later renamed Gentoo
Gentoo Linux
Gentoo Linux is a computer operating system built on top of the Linux kernel and based on the Portage package management system. It is distributed as free and open source software. Unlike a conventional software distribution, the user compiles the source code locally according to their chosen...
in 2002.
Gentoo Linux
The Gentoo LinuxGentoo Linux
Gentoo Linux is a computer operating system built on top of the Linux kernel and based on the Portage package management system. It is distributed as free and open source software. Unlike a conventional software distribution, the user compiles the source code locally according to their chosen...
distribution created enormous interest almost immediately. It remains by far the most high-profile source-based Linux distribution, and the quality of its documentation, and friendliness of its forums have been widely praised.
Gentoo Foundation
However, like many other free softwareFree software
Free software, software libre or libre software is software that can be used, studied, and modified without restriction, and which can be copied and redistributed in modified or unmodified form either without restriction, or with restrictions that only ensure that further recipients can also do...
projects, Gentoo struggled to create a business model
Business model
A business model describes the rationale of how an organization creates, delivers, and captures value...
which would support its key developers. Robbins resigned as Chief Architect on 26 April 2004, citing considerable personal debt, and a desire to spend more time with his family, formed the Gentoo Foundation and transferred all Gentoo intellectual property
Intellectual property
Intellectual property is a term referring to a number of distinct types of creations of the mind for which a set of exclusive rights are recognized—and the corresponding fields of law...
to it, so that Gentoo is now run as a full community-based model. He did rejoin the project for a short time from August 2006, becoming a developer again in February 2007 and joining the amd64 team but resigned in early March 2007.
There have been several high-profile criticisms of the way Gentoo has run since Robbins left, such as: "...since the resignation of Gentoo's founder and benevolent dictator from the project in 2004, the newly established Gentoo Foundation has been battling with lack of clear directions and frequent developer conflicts...", but in mid-July 2007 it emerged that Robbins was still technically the legal president of the Gentoo Foundation:
...I would like to see more fun in Gentoo, and a lot less politics, and in my apparent role as President of the Gentoo Foundation, I may have an opportunity to change things for the better. I will need to look into this more...
Funtoo Linux
In 2008, Robbins began to work on FuntooFuntoo
Funtoo is a a free operating system, more precisely a GNU/Linux distribution based on Gentoo, and initiated in 2008 by Daniel Robbins former Gentoo Linux project leader.- History :...
, a project created to allow him to work on extending the technologies originally created for Gentoo.
Technical writer
He has also been a fairly prolific technical writerTechnical writer
A technical writer is a professional writer who designs, creates, and maintains technical documentation...
, writing well-regarded tutorials for IBM and the Gentoo project, among others.
Microsoft
Robbins' move to MicrosoftMicrosoft
Microsoft Corporation is an American public multinational corporation headquartered in Redmond, Washington, USA that develops, manufactures, licenses, and supports a wide range of products and services predominantly related to computing through its various product divisions...
, in May 2005, attracted attention within the Linux community, which has historically had a combative relationship with Microsoft. He described his role working for Bill Hilf
Bill Hilf
Bill Hilf is the General Manager of product management for Microsoft's cloud computing platform, Windows Azure. Previously, he was General Manager of the Technical Computing group at Microsoft, which focuses on High Performance Computing, Parallel Computing, and Cloud Computing...
as "...helping Microsoft to understand Open Source and community-based projects..."
However, Robbins resigned less than a year later on 16 January 2006 due to frustrations that he was unable to fully utilize his technical skills in this position.
Funtoo Technologies
Daniel Robbins is also president of Funtoo Technologies, a consulting firm founded in 2006 and located in Albuquerque, New MexicoAlbuquerque, New Mexico
Albuquerque is the largest city in the state of New Mexico, United States. It is the county seat of Bernalillo County and is situated in the central part of the state, straddling the Rio Grande. The city population was 545,852 as of the 2010 Census and ranks as the 32nd-largest city in the U.S. As...
.