How Ubuntu Linux snuck into high-end Dell laptops (and why it is referred to as ‘Undertaking Sputnik’)

RALEIGH, NC — Right this moment, the Dell XPS-13 with Ubuntu Linux is definitely probably the most well-known Linux laptop computer. Many customers, particularly builders — together with Linus Torvalds — find it irresistible. As Torvalds not too long ago mentioned, “Usually, I would not title names, however I am making an exception for the XPS 13 simply because I favored it a lot that I additionally ended up shopping for one for my daughter when she went off to varsity.” 

So, how did Dell — finest identified for good-quality, mass-produced PCs — find yourself constructing top-of-the-line Ubuntu Linux laptops? Effectively, Barton George, Dell Applied sciences’ Developer Neighborhood supervisor, shared the “Undertaking Sputnik”  story this week in a presentation on the common Linux and open-source neighborhood present, All Things Open.

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First, nonetheless, it’s best to know that Dell has supported Linux desktops and laptops because the center 2000s. In 2006, Michael Dell advised me that Dell would be the first major PC vendor to release and support desktop Linux — and this proved to be a hit. 

George defined that Dell had at all times executed nice quantity with these computer systems. Not quantity, just like the Home windows machines, in fact, however sufficient that Dell has at all times supplied Linux-based — primarily Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL) powered —  workstations.  

Nonetheless, none of those machines actually appealed to builders. George defined:

 “Again in 2011, a bunch of us have been making an attempt to determine how Dell might grow to be extra related to builders. Dell wasn’t a giant factor in builders’ minds, and we determined it will be a good suggestion to get builders to vary their minds and to think about Dell as an organization they needed to work with.” 

This notion had been sparked by a dialog between Dell and Stephen O’Grady, co-founder of the developer-centric analyst agency RedMonk. Barton recalled O’Grady suggesting it will be nice for builders “for those who took one in every of your laptops, put Ubuntu on it, and simply acquired it to work. We mentioned that is an superior concept, however it’ll by no means occur, as a result of we’re speaking about Dell. Our laptops have to ship big volumes and income. Once I talked to one in every of our higher-ups concerning the volumes that we thought we’d promote, he mentioned, ‘Yeah, that is what we promote in Belgium on Tuesday, between three and 4 within the afternoon.'” 

Regardless of this disheartening analysis, when Dell began an in-house innovation fund, Barton pitched it once more. This time, he was granted $40,000 to pursue the thought. “This was sufficient to get going,” George recalled. “So, very first thing, we put collectively an official workforce. However none of us have been full-time on this. We acquired approval from their managers to work on this formally, however it was kind of in our spare time.” At instances, George mentioned, “The undertaking employees was two individuals and a canine.”

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George approached Google and Amazon: “‘Here is what we’re making an attempt to do,’ he associated his pitch. ‘Does this appear to be one thing you would be all in favour of?’ And so whereas they did not place an order there for 10,000 models, they did not giggle me out of the room, both.” It was sufficient to show there was a enterprise case for a developer-focused Ubuntu Linux laptop computer.  

Throughout that very same interval, George introduced on his private weblog what Dell was planning, and his site visitors went from 60 views a day to fifteen,000. Then, as now, there’s lots of curiosity in laptops that include Linux able to go. 

In spite of everything that, the workforce needed to make sure they did it proper. This would not simply be a case of dumping a distro on a machine and hoping for the most effective. You are able to do that right this moment and have a superb opportunity of every part working completely. In 2013? Not a lot. 

George added, “We created a tough picture that folks might use on the XPS 13. Builders might obtain it and begin engaged on it. We advised individuals there have been a  lot of caveats, and it wasn’t an official launch nor supported. However the important thing factor right here is whilst you could not do that with customers, with builders — who knew it was a beta– you then’re okay. And, we had many of the bugs labored out. The largest one was the touchpad, which someone described as ‘craptastic”https://www.zdnet.com/article/how-ubuntu-linux-snuck-into-high-end-dell-laptops-and-why-its-called-project-sputnik/.”

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So, Dell acquired along with Canonical, Ubuntu Linux’s dad or mum firm, to verify all of the drivers have been in place for a top-notch Ubuntu Linux developer desktop expertise. Certainly, the title ‘Undertaking Sputnik’ is a nod to Mark Shuttleworth, Ubuntu founder and Canonical CEO. A decade earlier than the undertaking itself, Shuttleworth had spent eight days orbiting the Earth in a Soviet Soyuz spacecraft. George and the crew determined “Soyuz”  did not have an inspiring ring to it, so the corporate went with “Sputnik” as an alternative.

George continued:

 “We introduced a beta program for the machine with a ten% off supply. We thought, nicely, we’ll in all probability get 300 individuals. As an alternative, we acquired 6,000. That is the place senior administration mentioned OK, you have acquired one thing actual. We went from slides to launch in 9 months. That is fairly quick for constructing a system.”

Now, greater than a decade later, the Dell XPS 13 line and different other Ubuntu-Linux-powered systems are extra common than ever. From a skunkworks undertaking, George and firm created a Linux {hardware} mainstay for each builders and energy customers.