SUSE Linux owner Attachmate gobbled by Micro Focus for $2.3bn

Re: Can't wait to see COBOL syntax highlighting in KDE's Kate text editor

You would probably be interested in the fact that the MF COBOL has Eclipse integration as well as Visual Studio.

Re: Can't wait to see COBOL syntax highlighting in KDE's Kate text editor

"... but I can see some potential in marrying the mainframe terminal emulator with Linux..."

You do realize that there are already open source TN3270 and TN5250 emulators? There have been professional products for at least 20 years for IBM terminal emulation on Unix, Windows, and even MS-DOS and OS/2. I used to work at Attachmate long ago. ("Where's the IrmaLAN team?" "He's right over there! Splinter!" [This actually confused an HR rep who didn't understand the Monty Python reference. Really, I wonder how much of real life those people experience. Maybe we need to study them with tracking collars and electric shocks...])

Yes, I remember when they were an independent company. Anyways, emulation on Linux not only includes terminal emulators, but also the Hercules project, which can emulate the mainframe itself.

Re: It kinda makes sense.

Some corrections:

It Is SUSE, not SuSE for more than 10 years ago.

"IBM is pushing z-linux..." Actually SUSE has long had the lead in market share for Linux on z, something like 80% of all Linux on mainframe is SUSE. Go to a mainframe conference and there are ten people from SUSE and maybe one from RH. SUSE was the original partner to port Linux to the mainframe with IBM.

SUSE sometimes does not get the credit they deserve for their work on Linux, like porting Linux to 64 bit, done in partnership with AMD or getting btrfs into real production shape.

Long time happy SUSE and openSUSE user...

Re: This announcement worries me

Strange comment, and I do not see where your worry comes from. MicroFocus is a conservative customer with a very nice cashflow from an extremely stable customer base. They will not have done this move for some mad hedge fund idea of strip and sale. I suspect they do want their own OS to go alongside COBOL so they have a nice packaged deal for them many many customers.

I inherited with horror 43 customers using COBOL as the result of a merger, and the aged workforce that looked after them. Its turned out to be dead easy to manage - very stable systems and by removing the Zimmers they stay working 18hrs a day.

COBOL and *ix from the same supplier looks like a great proposition to me.

Re: This announcement worries me

"...does Micro Focus actually have any commitment to Linux ..."

Hard to say. As a company, Micro Focus actually does good work (even if it is mainly known for its COBOL products), so I'm not concerned about SUSE suddenly being re-written into an unrecognizable mess.

If this is a response to Micro Focus's presumably shrinking product base, more power to 'em. Let them grow past their boundaries.

Re: This announcement worries me

> Now I am *really* worried - does Micro Focus actually have any commitment to Linux

You have a point, and I suspect only time will tell. Poor SuSE does seem to have had a rough time with buyers not really getting what a Linux distro is and does, but on the whole it's not gone too badly. Novell started badly and ended not too badly, Attachmate realised quite early that SuSE should remain separate. MicroFocus should understand the mainframe/mini world and its specialisms, but may commit a marketing foul.

The mine canary will probably be MF's relationship with OpenSuSE. If it continues to allow autonomy for that project, but still support it, all should be well. Meanwhile, test your systems on Debian... Just a pennyworth of opinion.

Re: I *like* this idea

While I can't comment on the merger in general, other than to say I think it will prove to be a Good Thing, I do want to point out that we (Micro Focus) have been selling COBOL on both Red Hat and SUSE for many years.