Linux Torvalds doesn't matter!?!
 

That's what CNN said. Read the story and what Linus had to say: http://os.newsforge.com/article.pl?s...24218&from=rss

I wonder how much Billy paid then to do this...

There is some truth to the idea that Linux is prepared to continue it's development without a hitch if Linus were to be run over by a truck tomorrow, but the "benevolent dictator" concept of protecting the kernel is probably an important thing, and I hope plans to continue it in one form or another are in place.

A project this big which depends on a single person is on thin ice, indeed. That is my biggest concern about distros like Slackware and Ubuntu which are built around the vision and policies of one person. It's a "tribal" organization rather than a corporate one. That's one of the reasons, I choose Debian as my distro. Ian Murdock is long gone from active direction, and the model has proven it can survive his loss.

Magic chair-shaped shuriken? I should give Microsoft a second look...

They forgot clippy!



If Linus got hit by a truck tomorrow, someone needs to take his place or people will stop switching to Linux. He is very important.

Why? Linus had nothing to do with my decision to switch. Do you think people will stop using Windoze because Mr. Gates has announced his intention to step down?

It's actually a positive report for Linux and, based on the NewsForge interview, Linus didn't seem overly concerned. It's sorta like the day your kid takes YOU to dinner. You know you did alright.

I don't really understand what's happening here. What means that Torvalds doesn't matter? Did he stop working on the kernel? Probably not. So, what's the problem? And what's this story with the drugs that Toralds says?
I think Balmer is also on the list... Would ever "Billy" harm Balmer? Except if you are talking about the other idiot: Clinton ;)

I agree that Linus Thorvalds didn't seem overly concerned about that article (hence the not so politically correct answers).
It is also probably true that, in terms of Linux development, we wouldn't even notice it if Linus ended up under a truck, or retired billionaire outside communications range in a Finish forest.
There is considerable economic interest out there in carrying kernel development further if Linus should disappear. IBM, Red Hat, Novell and the online community in general will see to that. Setting up a small, independent group that takes over after Linus shouldn't be that difficult.
A few years ago there was the Ebola virus outbreak in Africa. Very quickly world media picked up on it and predicted the end of the human race. Needless to say it didn't happen. It is a similar bit of irrational "health panic" going on here (health panic about Linus Thorvalds health). No, Linux is no longer dependent on 1 man. Sensible people will see to it that Linux goes on after Linus decide to go on to pastures new, whether that happens as part of career choice or accident...

According to the article, Steve Ballmer doesn't matter either. IMHO this article is only trying to stir up controversy

Trying to sell ad-space, yes, and not doing a very good job of it.

People idolize and fawn over people like Bill Gates mainly because he's fabulously rich. This, and the fact that his company buys lots of advertising, sells lots of ad "impressions."

But, as every engineer knows, hundreds of people slogged away for many years to create all of the products that we take for granted today; including Linux. For each of them there was always one seminal effort -- one person hacking away with a compiler in his dormitory room, say, because it was probably too damn cold to go outside ;) -- but the things that have happened since then don't sell advertising.

Engineering is a very boring story, so they simplify the hell out of it. "Apple computer was started by two people..." (Not three, which is correct, and certainly not three hundred.) "Two people stuck a tank into some dry-ice and the next morning it was full of Teflon." "Bill Gates and Paul Allen wrote this interpreter and punched it on a paper-tape and flew (or did they drive? drive.. sounds cooler) to Albuquerque where a bunch of hobbyists promptly stole it and ... <<zip-p-p-p past the boring part>> now Paul Allen has this fantastic yacht and sails around the world all day while Bill Gates is still such a geek that he goofs off with techno-toys in his twenty-bezillion-square-foot home and plays weekend bridge games with Larry Ellison." (Good: that should sell some ad-space in Inc. ...)

People want to read stories about people who got rich, first of all, and who got rich quick. It's a fantasy that lots of people have... (a) that they will somehow get rich doing what they (love to?) do... and (b) that they will do so quickly and without effort. Failing that, they at least (c) want to feel like they can connect to someone else who's "down in the trenches" as they are: witness the success of Dilbert. Or that very famous line: "I coulda been a contender..."

I don't think Torvalds is more important for Linux today than Einstein is for physics. He got an idea, did something to it, and today the whole thing is so widespread that even if he really did get run over by a herd of trucks, Linux "would survive". Presumably it would cause some changes, but it definitely wouldn't "destroy Linux". That's far gone by, so I think it can be said that Torvalds "doesn't matter". Of course he does, but not in the same fashion any more (not like Pope does, if does).

Oh, and the drug-stuff..gkiagia, try this before re-reading the article:
:rolleyes: