Quick work with updating the article! You’re right and wrong on the last comment.

The source code is open – though you have to register for it. You go to the “Subscription” page and apply for the code. In a week (yes, I know that’s a bit of a long time but they process requests manually right now), you get a username and password.

There is a concept of members – that’s what funds the basic research of the T-Engine Forum.

Members get the following main advantages:
1. Early access to stuff being developed (rather than waiting till it’s mature). This could be a benefit of anywhere between 3 – 6 months.

2. They get to participate in the standardization process.

General public, however, is free to obtain the source (after registration) and do whatever it wants. Items are released to the public after they have been fixed.

In my understanding of the project, it is currently more focussed on providing solutions to academia and indsutry, rather than individuals – and this would be another area where it differs from projects like the GNU.

Hope this helps clarify some more issues :P

Cheers
Mohit.

Thanks for the interesting info – I updated my entry.

There are a number of things that are missing in your initial assessment.

1. The main “open” part of the T-Engine is the open specification. Anyone can build a compliant system, including hardware && software.

2. There is “open” source available from the T-Engine Forum. So, it is available – not hidden away.

3. Developers are allowed to change the kernel in any way they see fit. They can optimize it, strip it down, enhance it – whatever they need to do for their project.

4. Changes made to the platform-independant part of the kernel CANNOT be made available to others. The rationale is to prevent multiple incompatible versions of the kernel appearing. The idea is that if there are many different versions of the kernel, then it will make middleware unable to work on kernels that meet the specification.

5. The main difference with the GPL (if I understand this bit correctly) is that you can use the code for whatever you like (open source or proprietary) and not need to disclose anything to anyone.

6. Also, it’s royalty free.

7. Security is completely different in this project – it’s provided by an extra piece of hardware called the eTRON.

OK, this is all I have right now. I’ve worked with the project, which is why I have some idea.

A more detailed technical page regarding the T-Engine sghould be up on my website at http://www.onghu.com/te/

If you want more information, you could email me from the above site!

Cheers,
Mohit.