Hi,
I am a newbie to linux. I have seen lot of big software that come and go. Is there any prof that linux is here to stay. I intend to become a linux developer, an elite hacker i mean. I don't want my effort go down the drain. I know that it is fast spreading, but i also hear news that its in patent law troubles.

For what is is worth i think Linux is here to stay. large Corporations have become invested in linux, IBM, Novel and others.

*snigger* "I intend to become a linux developer, an elite hacker i mean.". Class line.

No, linux is just a passing fad of a few people that dont have anything better to do with their (and mine) lives.

i don't see linux or gnu based OS's leaving anytime soon.... and they will always have a place on "old" hardware

besides, your work can only go down the drain if you wont even use it

Will probably be around for a while

What proof was there that any of it was not here to stay?
As opposed to what proof that any software is here to stay?
Don't you have to actually be one and make up your own mind for this thread to be anything but silly?

Linux will probably be around for a while, I don't thnk you have to worry. There is lots of money to be had in software for linux, and businesses will take advantage of that. You also get companies, like above, IBM and Novell, with their own proprietary OS, who realize that linux is/has surpassed their products, and rather then spend millions of dollars trying to match linux, they spend millions making linux work for their hardware, which just gets even more people developing software.

What's this thing called Linux that everyone keeps referring to... ??

PS. More of a discussion, not a technical question. Moving to General.

when longhorn ships in 2107, it will slowly take at least 2% slice of the cake.
but most importantly linux will fade because it is so dependent on it´s developers. when they all quit developing, that´s it. linux is dead.

Unix has been around in various forms since the early 1970's. The rumors of its demise are highly suspect.

The only time I hear about it is when that nice man(what's his name. oh yeh, Steve Ballmer) talks about it.

Unix, what is Unix, and who was talking about it?

Yeah... Unix is really old, it's probably about time for us to retire her. Commercial Jetliners don't even last that long usually. Linux is definitely going to take unix's place sometime in the near future (near = ~10 years)... Gates hit that nail on the head.

And if Longhorn turns out to be any good, it will shoot down linux's chances to thrive on the desktop market, this is just the sad truth. But then again, Linux is meant for multi-user systems, not home PC's in particular. I find that Linux is somewhat overbearing for the average user anyway, since most people don't want to bother with file permissions or any crap like that... I get sick of it at times even. The truth is, linux systems need a full-time or at least part-time administrator to be able to work properly, and you've got it made if you are your own admin. But most people aren't knowledgeable enough for that at the start(hence this website).

Linux will only work well as a desktop system when It is preinstalled and 100% capable of running windows applications (in essence, making it just like windows... Seems a bit pointless to little old me)

But, in the hearts of nerds like me, linux will live forever

You are right that airliners don't last forever. However, software does!

Yes.