For example, two well known embedded Linux projects spawned on Italian soil are ETLinux, an open source small footprint Embedded Linux developed by PROSA, and RTAI, a real-time Linux enhancement created at the Department of Aerospace Engineering, Politecnico di Milano (DIAPM).
But while RTAI has flourished, EtLinux development has suffered somewhat of a setback this year.
Whither, EtLinux?
EtLinux development appears to have been scaled back substantially, following the late-1999 acquisition of PROSA by Linuxcare. This is confirmed by a quick visit to the EtLinux website, where there is little evidence of project activity since last February or March. One EtLinux developer characterised the situation following the acquisition as a shift towards contract development and away from product development (beyond a few minor enhancements), "since we are buried with work for paying customers."
By October, that "shift" took on a new twist, with a report by Linuxgram that Linuxcare was closing down Linuxcare Italia. A source within Linuxcare Italia confirmed the rumor, telling LinuxDevices.com that "after one year, while Linuxcare stopped any attempt to further develop EtLinux by PROSA, they have [decided to] close European operations." Linuxcare's CEO, Art Tyde, explained his company's plan to dissolve its Italian subsidiary this way: "to really get Europe off the ground, we would have had to invest a large amount of money [which is] not the best business strategy [for Linuxcare] today."
Notwithstanding Linuxcare's lack of priority on EtLinux development, embedded Linux developers have continued to express strong interest in it for future embedded designs, as evidenced by data collected in LinuxDevices.com's Embedded Linux Market surveys. Recogniaing the continued interest in EtLinux, a former employee of PROSA recently told LinuxDevices.com, "we hope to restart developing EtLinux."
