Star Kernel Coding No Picnic, Says Torvalds
Linked by Thom Holwerda on Mon 18th Aug 2008 22:29 UTC, submitted by rlem6983
Linux Linux project lead Linus Torvalds has said it is not easy to become a major contributor to the Linux kernel. In an email interview with ZDNet.com.au sister site ZDNet.co.uk last week, Torvalds said that, while it was relatively easy for coders and organisations to contribute small patches, the contribution of large patches, developed in isolation, could lead to both new and established contributors becoming frustrated. "The kernel is about pretty harsh technical issues, and mistakes are really frowned upon," wrote Torvalds. "In an OS kernel, there are simply more security and stability requirements, and the bar is really higher in some respects. That will inevitably also reflect in the response to patches."
E-mail Print r 2   13 Comment(s) http://osne.ws/fky
Order by: Score:
Add Comment Post a Comment

Comment by flanque
by flanque on Mon 18th Aug 2008 22:58 UTC
flanque
Member since:
2005-12-15

Kernel development isn't easy.. gee, you think?

Say it isn't so..

Reply Bookmark Score: 3

RE: Comment by flanque
by dreamlax on Tue 19th Aug 2008 02:07 UTC in reply to "Comment by flanque"
dreamlax Member since:
2007-01-04

I think he's talking about the difficulty of code management, not the actual difficulty of coding a kernel.

Anyone else read the title as "Kernel coding no panic"?

Reply Bookmark Score: 1

Becoming a kernel dev
by abraxas on Tue 19th Aug 2008 02:35 UTC
abraxas
Member since:
2005-07-07

The article is more about becoming a kernel dev than anything else. Torvalds is just saying that it isn't easy becoming a kernel dev but he also says it's not hard to contribute. If you want to be a dev you have to start out small.

Reply Bookmark Score: 7

v duh
by sardaukar on Tue 19th Aug 2008 09:10 UTC
Comment by Redeeman
by Redeeman on Tue 19th Aug 2008 10:57 UTC
Redeeman
Member since:
2006-03-23

that is ofcourse, its not easy becoming a main contribute, provided you dont spray patches constantly to try and fix up your work.. If you only provide patches when stuff works, and then minor tweakings, its alot harder...

Reply Bookmark Score: 2

He also refers to the process
by eantoranz on Tue 19th Aug 2008 17:05 UTC
eantoranz
Member since:
2005-12-18

It's not about being able to code for the kernel per se, but getting to "stick" in the kernel development process:
- Getting to be trusted by other developers
- Getting to be used to being "bitched" by other developers if they think your code is not OK. That can be a little tough on one's self-esteem.
- And so on.

Reply Bookmark Score: 2

What would happen....
by truckweb on Tue 19th Aug 2008 17:08 UTC
truckweb
Member since:
2005-07-06

If Linus Torvalds died? Would it be the end of Linux?

Sometime, I feel like the Linux kernel revolve around only one guy and if the quit, Linux would die.

It's all about Linus...

Reply Bookmark Score: 2

RE: What would happen....
by alucinor on Tue 19th Aug 2008 17:26 UTC in reply to "What would happen...."
alucinor Member since:
2006-01-06

I don't think Linux would die, but I think Red Hat and Google would gain more clout as Andrew Morton works for Google, and Red Hat employs a lot of devs.

Reply Bookmark Score: 3

RE[2]: What would happen....
by google_ninja on Tue 19th Aug 2008 19:36 UTC in reply to "RE: What would happen...."
google_ninja Member since:
2006-02-05

IBM would prolly try and make a power play too

Reply Bookmark Score: 1

RE: What would happen....
by ari-free on Tue 19th Aug 2008 22:32 UTC in reply to "What would happen...."
ari-free Member since:
2007-01-22

you make it sound as if Linus was 87 years old with a terminal illness, G-d forbid.

Reply Bookmark Score: 3

RE[2]: What would happen....
by truckweb on Wed 20th Aug 2008 10:35 UTC in reply to "RE: What would happen...."
truckweb Member since:
2005-07-06

Don't worry, Linus, like all humans, will die.

So, I'm just asking if their is a backup plan, who will take on the coding of the kernel? Will it fork with IBM going it's own way and RedHat taking another route? Who knows?

I feel that when this happens, we will live with the same kernel for a while until devs regroup and decide where they want to go.

Reply Bookmark Score: 2

RE[3]: What would happen....
by happycamper on Wed 20th Aug 2008 19:35 UTC in reply to "RE[2]: What would happen...."
happycamper Member since:
2006-01-01

Don't worry, Linus, like all humans, will die.



Not me, i plan to use human enhancement techniques to live forever:-)

Reply Bookmark Score: 2

In other news...
by tomcat on Wed 20th Aug 2008 01:27 UTC
tomcat
Member since:
2006-01-06

Dog bites man.

Reply Bookmark Score: 1

Add Comment Post a Comment