What happens when Linus stops developing?

bkeating · 10-09-2002, 07:30 PM

After reading a interview he recently had that was linked on /. I felt a little "WTF?" about his statements on how he doesn't think GNU/Linux will surpass Microsoft.

Now he's speaking realistically, I gues you can argue but I don't think the head of kernel development should have little to no future outlook.

To me it seems he does not have the urge to be compettitive and thats because he is the foundation supplier.

So my question is, who is in place for runner up in kernel development? I thought this myself, really have looked around just yet and im not sure why i think this but if Red hat has anything to do with it, I'd be extremely upset and would most likely switch to HURD.

Anyway, this is all based off one article but based off this article and this article only this is what i feel and im a tad like this:

MasterC · 10-09-2002, 07:55 PM

I think runner's up would include GNU man RMS, and probably for kernel devel, Alan Cox.

I have no idea what goes on in real Linux land, but that'd be my guesses as a reader

Cool

trickykid · 10-09-2002, 07:56 PM

I'm sure he would hand it down to someone he trusts and who is experienced in the decision making that he handles now for the kernel development.

Just because he quits doesn't mean Linux would cease to exist and I think he realizes that now. But he has never been out to make Linux the #1 OS, as he stated when he started, it was only for a hobby cause he was unhappy with his current OS and what it didn't provide for him.

KnightAbel · 10-09-2002, 08:48 PM

hmm... You know, my IT teacher is going to Jamaica for a Linux Conference, he may know something on this when he gets back, as I recall, he read the same article today.

EDIT: Linus Torvalds is one of the key speakers.

MasterC · 10-09-2002, 08:54 PM

Cool, Jamaica, that'd be nice

Any idea if this will be available over the net as some sort of stream? That'd be cool to watch.

Cool

KnightAbel · 10-09-2002, 09:01 PM

I don't have a clue actually. All I know is that I'm extremely jealous. Still, he has to spend a couple thousand dollars on it, so meh.

man, he was bragging today about seeing thongs! :: sigh ::

mcleodnine · 10-09-2002, 09:39 PM

I read the blurb earlier this week about how Transmeta seems to banking a lot of their future on Crusoe-based hardware for WinCE handhelds. My concern was if there would be any NDA stuff (ie: access to MS source) that it may exclude M. Torvalds from contributing to Linux. (Not even sure how close he is to that side)
</conspiracyzone>

jetblackz · 10-09-2002, 11:36 PM

I am with Tricky on this one.

Linux doesn't belong to anyone. Just like the Internet. Nobody owns it. It belongs to everyone. If Linus decides to quit one day, no prob, there are dozens, if not hundreds, of developers who would volunteer to take over.

Take Slack for example. It's been around since '93. Started with Patrick. Still with him. Never had a big company backing it. It's still around. Slack doesn't have splashy GUI installer like RH & MDK.

kabads · 10-10-2002, 05:14 AM

My money is on Alan Cox, not a company.

As for his work at Transmeta, I imagine that linus isn't really into their core work (they were doing something on electronics and how to run fast CPUs IIRC). I think he's more of an advisor who also gets to work on the kernel.

jglen490 · 10-10-2002, 07:14 AM

Quote:

Now he's speaking realistically, I gues you can argue but I don't think the head of kernel development should have little to no future outlook.

I don't think that you can agrue that at all. Surpassing an economic powerhouse takes another economic powerhouse and that's just not the Linux model. What is good is that with every new Linux user and with every new positive Linux development or news story, there's more pressure on M$ to "do the right thing".

How they react to the pressure is what's important. If they make some subtle positive change in the way they market themselves, then Linux comes out a winner. If they make some negative change, then Linux looks more like the hero.

nxny · 10-10-2002, 07:01 PM

I read in one of the older interviews that Linus has a clause in the contract that stipulates something like 'Transmeta doesn't own/ cannot control the Linux work that he does even if he's doing it on company time'. Now that should be a position I'm definitely jealous of.

Granted, Linus controls kernel development, but there are tons of people out there who could share the responsibility. Since linux is not a single entity as in a corporation or a person, it is impossible for it to run out of business or run out of developers. People who want to do more with their computers will definitely be attracted to linux and as long as it persists ( read forever ) Linux is safe.