LinuxQuestions.org
Welcome to the most active Linux Forum on the web.
Go Back   LinuxQuestions.org > Forums > Linux Forums > Linux - News
User Name
Password
Linux - News This forum is for original Linux News. If you'd like to write content for LQ, feel free to contact us.
All threads in the forum need to be approved before they will appear.

Notices


Reply
  Search this Thread
Old 08-20-2014, 01:52 PM   #1
jeremy
root
 
Registered: Jun 2000
Distribution: Debian, Red Hat, Slackware, Fedora, Ubuntu
Posts: 13,597

Rep: Reputation: 4080Reputation: 4080Reputation: 4080Reputation: 4080Reputation: 4080Reputation: 4080Reputation: 4080Reputation: 4080Reputation: 4080Reputation: 4080Reputation: 4080
Linux Founder Linus Torvalds 'Still Wants the Desktop'


During a LinuxCon panel discussion, Linus Torvalds provides insight into what works and what doesn't with Linux in 2014.

Quote:
The Linux faithful gathered today at LinuxCon to hear core Linux developers, especially Linus Torvalds—and the audience wasn't disappointed. In a keynote panel session, Torvalds spoke of his hopes and the challenges for Linux in 2014.

Linux kernel developer Greg Kroah-Hartman moderated the discussion and commented that Linux already runs everywhere. He asked Torvalds where he thinks Linux should go next.

"I still want the desktop," Torvalds said as the audience erupted into boisterous applause.

The challenge on the desktop is not a kernel problem, Torvalds said. "It's a whole infrastructure problem. I think we'll get there one day."

Torvalds also discussed the issue of kernel testing overall and noted that testing drivers on real hardware is problematic. He sees a need to encourage the Linux user community to be part of testing recent kernels. "That's the only way we find the strange hardware quirks," he said. "Most developers have something modern, and the rest the rest of the world has older stuff."

The issue of kernel code bloat was also addressed as Linux is now being run in small-form-factor embedded devices.

Torvalds said he'd love for Linux to shrink in size "We've been bloating the kernel over the last 20 years, but hardware has grown faster," he said.
More at eWeek

What do you think about Linus' comments?

--jeremy
 
Old 08-20-2014, 03:36 PM   #2
metaschima
Senior Member
 
Registered: Dec 2013
Distribution: Slackware
Posts: 1,982

Rep: Reputation: 492Reputation: 492Reputation: 492Reputation: 492Reputation: 492
"I still want the desktop", what an unusual comment. As if Linus was thinking about not ? or others were ? What is going on ? Have I been ignoring something important ?

Desktop as in not-mobile device ? Desktop as in Desktop environment ? Both ?

Any hints ?
 
Old 08-20-2014, 07:51 PM   #3
rokytnji
LQ Veteran
 
Registered: Mar 2008
Location: Waaaaay out West Texas
Distribution: antiX 23, MX 23
Posts: 7,064
Blog Entries: 21

Rep: Reputation: 3470Reputation: 3470Reputation: 3470Reputation: 3470Reputation: 3470Reputation: 3470Reputation: 3470Reputation: 3470Reputation: 3470Reputation: 3470Reputation: 3470
I am in tune with what he has to say about

Quote:
Torvalds also discussed the issue of kernel testing overall and noted that testing drivers on real hardware is problematic. He sees a need to encourage the Linux user community to be part of testing recent kernels. "That's the only way we find the strange hardware quirks," he said. "Most developers have something modern, and the rest the rest of the world has older stuff."
On the distro teams I belong to. I am the guinea pig kernel tester, and I also grab kernels from other developers and test on everything from IBM A22M laptops with floppy drives to Emachine single core AMD , ati graphics, to all kinds of netbooks I also have in my possession.

I consider user kernel testing a integral part of a a distro going from alpha to a release version.
More users should consider having the same mindset, if not having the funds to donate to a Linux project.

It is not that hard to test a new kernel and not that hard to un-install a testing kernel for any developer.
It is also not that hard to give intelligent feedback also. The person who configured the kernel will tell you
how to do this and you might learn something new in the process. Win, Win, as far as I see it.

I am kinda surprised he noticed and mentioned this,

Every little bit helps. No?
It seems to me the least one can do to help.
Not a rocket scientist here. Just a Scooter Tramp Biker with a GED.
 
Old 08-21-2014, 05:43 PM   #4
ninja master
Member
 
Registered: May 2008
Distribution: funtoo/gentoo amd64 xwrt
Posts: 412

Rep: Reputation: 31
linus needs to make an opt in program that allows kernel versions, configs, lspci, lsusb, dmesg etc to be shipped back to source for problems. it would only require a booting kernel & net drivers, and could persist so completely dorked up kernel statistics can be mailed home when a solvent functional kernels wound together & booted. i have hardware that i know doesn't work under 3.16.0, id love for the hive mind to be able to work on this hardware that they may or may not have.
 
  


Reply


Thread Tools Search this Thread
Search this Thread:

Advanced Search

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off



Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
LXer: Linux Founder Linus Torvalds 'Still Wants the Desktop' LXer Syndicated Linux News 0 08-20-2014 01:00 PM
LXer: Linus Torvalds on the Linux desktop's popularity problems LXer Syndicated Linux News 0 09-03-2012 05:21 PM
LXer: Linus Torvalds likes the Google Chrome OS Linux desktop LXer Syndicated Linux News 0 05-04-2012 10:43 PM
LXer: Open source identity: Linux founder Linus Torvalds LXer Syndicated Linux News 0 01-25-2009 03:40 AM
LXer: Q&A: Linux founder Linus Torvalds talks about open-source identity LXer Syndicated Linux News 0 01-23-2009 06:30 AM

LinuxQuestions.org > Forums > Linux Forums > Linux - News

All times are GMT -5. The time now is 11:00 AM.

Main Menu
Advertisement
My LQ
Write for LQ
LinuxQuestions.org is looking for people interested in writing Editorials, Articles, Reviews, and more. If you'd like to contribute content, let us know.
Main Menu
Syndicate
RSS1  Latest Threads
RSS1  LQ News
Twitter: @linuxquestions
Open Source Consulting | Domain Registration