Open Source Development Lab

The creator of the Linux operating system is joining a global development group to focus on improving the open-source software. Linus Torvalds said he is taking a leave from his research job at chip maker Transmeta Corp. He will become the first fellow at the Beaverton, Ore.-based Open Source Development Lab, which is funded by high-tech companies to, among other things, enhance Linux for corporate data centers. At the lab, he will focus on the next major revision of the Linux core, or kernel.

The creator of the Linux operating system is joining a global development group to focus on improving the open-source software. Linus Torvalds said he is taking a leave from his research job at chip maker Transmeta Corp. He will become the first fellow at the Beaverton, Ore.-based Open Source Development Lab, which is funded by high-tech companies to, among other things, enhance Linux for corporate data centers. At the lab, he will focus on the next major revision of the Linux core, or kernel.

Several of the world's biggest computing companies will contribute millions of dollars each to an Oregon lab to spur development of applications using the Linux free operating system on large computers. IBM, Hewlett-Packard and Intel are among the main sponsors of the initiative. IBM and Hewlett-Packard are among the many companies with internal Linux projects, and the big computer firms have also invested in for-profit Linux companies.