Caldera layoffs include key programmer

14 Sep 2001 17:10

Continuing contraction for Caldera with cuts in all departments.

The 51 employees who lost their jobs in the latest round of layoffs at Caldera International include a programmer who helped lead a key part of the company's strategy of making its Linux and Unix operating systems work in the same way.

Juergen G. Kienhoefer helped write the Linux Kernel Personality (LKP) software, which lets Linux programs run unmodified on Caldera's higher-end Open Unix software.

Earlier this month, Orem, Utah-based Caldera announced layoffs, restructuring, an $18.8 million loss, and a reverse stock split to try to prevent delisting from the Nasdaq. Caldera started as a Linux company but earlier this year acquired two versions of Unix from Santa Cruz Operation, which now is named after its Tarantella software product. Included in the acquisition were hundreds of employees. Kienhoefer was among them.

Fifty-one of the Caldera's 618 employees lost their jobs in the latest layoffs, Cantrell said. The cuts were from all departments, including marketing, development and administration. The company laid off workers earlier this year as well.

See the Linux Lounge for the latest GNU/Linux and open source headlines.

Have your say instantly, and see what others have said. Click on the TalkBack button and go to the Linux lounge forum

Story URL: http://news.zdnet.co.uk/software/0,1000000121,2095323,00.htm