June 28, 2009, 9:00 pm
Intel’s Linux-based Moblin platform for netbook devices has much in common with conventional Linux distributions. Intel has adopted many standard components of the Linux desktop stack and has made modifications where necessary in order to boost mobile performance and usability. Moblin’s extensive use of standard Linux components helps third-party developers because it guarantees a certain degree of portability between Moblin and regular Linux distributions.
But there are some major areas where Intel deviated substantially from the standard components and invented its own replacements. Moblin’s highly innovative top-level user interface shell is one of the most evident cases, but there are other unique pieces of desktop infrastructure not immediately visible on the surface that are equally interesting.
One of Moblin’s custom software components that has recently attracted considerable interest is its network management and configuration system. Instead of adopting NetworkManager, which is widely used by mainstream Linux distributions, Intel created its own framework called ConnMan… but not everyone is pleased with the decision.
