Mer is an open source GNU/Linux running machine designed for cell gadgets. Sailfish OS, the running gadget that Jolla develops for smartphones, is probably the most popular running system primarily based on Mer (which isn’t clearly announcing very an awful lot). And the 2 projects were intently intertwined from the get-go.
So it’s now not precisely a large wonder that Jolla and Mer have announced that they’re merging Mer and Sailfish OS.
What does this mean for users? Not a good deal actually. On the lower back quit, a few modifications will be made to servers, and users and developers may also want to create some new bills.
But the most thrilling element about the 2 initiatives merging is that it represents today’s in a protracted line of twists and turns in an open source running system aimed at mobile devices.
The Mer Project was founded in 2011 and it turned into essentially a network-primarily based continuation of MeeGo, another open supply operating machine that had simply been abandoned by using its primary backers, Intel, Nokia, and the Linux Foundation.
Until its dying, MeeGo becomes presupposed to be a versatile, Linux-primarily based operating system that might be used across various gadgets along with netbooks, smartphones, drugs, smart TVs and in-automobile structures. The Linux Foundation canceled the mission after some years and as an alternative decided to consciousness on Tizen… which remains around, however it’s frequently utilized by Samsung for clever TVs, smart watches, and some finances smartphones.
MeeGo itself wasn’t actually around all that long — the initial release came in 2010 and the very last release became pushed out simply over two years later.
But MeeGo’s roots pass back a piece similarly than that. It turned into born while builders delivered together Moblin (a netbook operating system evolved by way of Intel and the Linux Foundation) and Maemo (a smartphone OS developed through Nokia).
All of that is to mention, Mer and Sailfish have some deep history in the back of them.
While we’re nonetheless waiting for a cellphone maker to supply a modern cellphone that ships with a GNU/Linux working device that can be used to run mobile applications and computer software, Nokia shipped one way again in 2009!