Russian government decides to develop Windows alternative

[Emil]

The Russian government is no longer comfortable being dependent on the Windows operating system, and has thus decided to create its own flavor of Linux for internal use. 150 million rubles (€3.55 million or nearly $4.89 million) has been put aside for the project. That's a huge amount of money to invest into something that isn't certain (what if Russia gives up and goes back to using Windows 7?).

"We will become independent of Windows ... but it risks becoming an unthinking implantation of Linux [that was probably supposed to be translated as "implementation"]," Russian deputy and computer expert Ilia Ponomarev told the AFP. Nevertheless, he admitted that it will be difficult to create and implement an operating system secure enough for government use, conceding that "the devil is in the details." Those details will be hashed out during a December meeting headed by Vice Prime Minister Sergei Ivanov.

Until the project comes to fruition and Russia actually declares its solution superior to Windows, this won't be a big deal. Even then though, we doubt Microsoft will be particularly worried. The software giant will undoubtedly be unhappy for losing some business, but it won't be a huge blow.

Permalink to story.

https://www.techspot.com/news/40886-russian-government-decides-to-develop-windows-alternative.html

 

[PanicX]

Nevertheless, he admitted that it will be difficult to create and implement an operating system secure enough for government use

You mean Russia doesnt trust the NSA's Secure Linux?

 

[Guest]

Securing a customized Linux distribution should be pretty easy, but teaching all those political heads how to use a rather cryptic OS might not be a walk in the park. They should hire Linus for a political crash course

 

[Zoner1501]

This article just begs for some "In Soviet Russia" jokes...Anyways, 5 million USD seems like alot for a creation of an operating system, but I wonder just how much does Microsoft spend on the development of each Windows incarnation?

 

[Emil]

zoner1501 said:
This article just begs for some "In Soviet Russia" jokes...Anyways, 5 million USD seems like alot for a creation of an operating system, but I wonder just how much does Microsoft spend on the development of each Windows incarnation?

Probably more, but Windows is profitable. Russia's solution would not be sold.

 

[posermobile89]

If it works, that would be great. It be harder to get a bug or anything with a fully customized OS. But I have a feeling it's not going to work out for them

 

[UT66]

but can it run crysis?

 

[akannitaoheed]

It makes a lot of sense to have options. If they think windows isn't the best for them and decide to develop their own stuff, good for them. The market place is better with a healthy competition.

 

[gwailo247]

I can't even begin to imagine the number of back doors coded into that OS.

What are they going to call it? окна́?

 

[PanicX]

zoner1501 said:
This article just begs for some "In Soviet Russia" jokes...Anyways, 5 million USD seems like alot for a creation of an operating system, but I wonder just how much does Microsoft spend on the development of each Windows incarnation?

$5 million is a drop in the bucket compared to Microsoft's development costs.
Microsoft is investing $1 billion in Windows Mobile 7 alone ($400 million for advertising)
http://www.neowin.net/news/microsoft-set-to-invest-1-billion-in-windows-mobile

The real sting I think is that Microsoft last year started investing $300 million in Russia.
http://www.microsoft.com/emea/presscentre/pressreleases/RussianEconomyPR_210409.mspx
Though, I wonder if the $5 million is just reallocated from the money Microsoft is giving them.

 

[TomSEA]

(shrugs) They should be able to manage this fine. Just get all those Russian mafia hackers together, lock them in a room and say, "Build us a new OS or it's the Gulag for you!"

 

[neowing]

It seems to me they want to develop there own version of Operation System, but the time will tell what will they create or not.

 

[TwiztidSef]

I believe they will run into a real problem when they try to implement this. It takes quite a bit of time training someone in a new OS or program. Plus the switch in accounting and office programs. Just saying that it will most likely cost much more than 5 million in just implementing the system.

 

[Frostback]

The military and government options alone for this system makes sense for them. They are using this to upgrade their own abilities as a nation. Russia has been getting good money from oil sales the last few years, combining with a desire to increase their technological sophistication.

Back to the bad old days of the Cold War and Russian national pride.

 

[frodough]

didnt china tried it? and india or korea too? i dont think it's a big concern b/c a country would always try to be less dependent to others. hell if i have the resources to make my own pc and program my own software i would, it would be more fun.

 

[TeamworkGuy2]

I say good luck to them.
It would be cool to see a country succeed at something like this and overcome a big industrial giant like M$.
Although the odds are a bit against them, especially if they do not hire experienced programmers and develop a good strategy.

 

[Technochicken]

UT66 said:
but can it run crysis?

Since it's linux it might be able to with wine. But I don't imagine the Russian government uses gaming computers.

 

[DryIce]

While I understand their dislike of Windows, their effort will probably fail catastrophically.

 

[klepto12]

lets see they have maybe what less than 1% of what Microsoft puts up for developing an OS and they plan on a simple linux OS to cover the awesomeness of Windows 7 ? maybe the Russian government needs to go back to school because windows is to hard for them.

 

[mtrenal]

gwailo247 said:
I can't even begin to imagine the number of back doors coded into that OS.

What are they going to call it? окна́?

крыша поехала is more like it... making an OS that's not just a Linux knockoff will be hard enough in itself. Making sure that their security can't be compromised? That's another issue.

However, if they were able to create a functioning operating system, I don't think that there would be that much issue with making it secure in a general sense- how many people are going to look and try and find the specific bugs and holes in security for an operating system thats hardly distributed.
Making it secure enough for the military and government, with the number of countries who would love to be able to access Russia's computer network, will be quite a feat.

 

[captaincranky]

Hold on to your ushankas, it's "Linuxskaya".....

The Russian government is no longer comfortable being dependent on the Windows operating system, and has thus decided to create its own flavor of Linux for internal use. 150 million rubles (€3.55 million or nearly $4.89 million) has been put aside for the project. That's a huge amount of money to invest into something that isn't certain (what if Russia gives up and goes back to using Windows 7?).

So that amounts to how much for the decompilers, and how much gets siphoned off by the Russian mob?

Then I suppose they'll turn to "Open Office.orgsky too.

 

[IAMTHESTIG]

Microsoft = Богохульство!!!

Seriously though... I agree, i'm surprised our own government uses Microsoft OS's on some of their mission critical systems. I wouldn't trust using it either to run a country either! The Russian Federation has the right idea, and other countries should follow suite. But at the rate we are moving toward socialism here in the States our government may be doing the same thing!

Still, makes you wonder what they may be trying to hide...

 

[stewi0001]

In Russia OS runs you XD jking!

 

[mtrenal]

Hold on to your ushankas, it's "Linuxskaya".....

Then I suppose they'll turn to "Open Office.orgsky too.

The first remark in response to the doubts about the security of a 5 million dollar OS: "Ze security will keep virus out of machine like ushanka keeps snow from head."

Every time something goes wrong instead of beeps or error messages or blue screens you'll just hear Khruschev's voice, "WE WILL BURY YOU!" as your computer powers off.

 

[captaincranky]

"Honor to labor, comrade"......

Microsoft = Богохульство!!!

Well yes, but is it still abbreviated, "M$".......?

Every time something goes wrong instead of beeps or error messages or blue screens you'll just hear Khruschev's voice, "WE WILL BURY YOU!" as your computer powers off.

Or perhaps you might hear Boris Yeltsin belching from acute vodka overdose, as the machine descends into oblivion.