"Con Kolivas is a prominent developer on the Linux kernel and strong proponent of Linux on the desktop. But recently, he left it all behind. Why? In this interview with APCMag.com, Con gives insightful answers exploring the nature of the hardware and software market, the problems the Linux kernel must overcome for the desktop, and why despite all this he's now left it all behind."
To view parent comment, click here.
To read all comments associated with this story, please click here.
Member since:2005-12-15
That's really at odds with my experience back when I was first learning about Linux. Granted, it was a Red Hat specific IRC channel, but even when learning the very basics I got abused to no end because I didn't "RTFM".
The only problem was that I didn't know how to access the man pages and being new searching for things on the Internet could be difficult when you don't know the specific key words to enter.
I think it's come a long way since then, but I am not at all surprised people get nailed for asking questions others take for granted as assumed knowledge.
Member since:2005-10-02
Well, if you don't know how to access man-pages you are definitely not a "tech savvy user" 
It's true that developers are often harsh on newbies, but more often than not it's because newbies are swallowing human resources like nobody else can. And that's annoying - and being annoyed (even when a person does not intend to annoy) brings out the worst in people.
OTOH, show the devs that you know what you're doing, and they will be more than friendly.
Member since:
2006-08-29
I've mailed the kernel mailing list before with various boot failures I've had during a couple of -rc cycles and the responses I got were rather friendly.
The kernel mailing list is a list for *development*, for posting patches and discussing changes to code but as a tech savvy user (someone at least familiar with compiling the kernel) if you post enough information in a suitable manner you'll be welcomed.