Submitted by 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.”
Kernel development isn’t easy.. gee, you think?
Say it isn’t so..
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”?
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.
It’s not easy?? REALLY??? Wow…
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…
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.
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…
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.
IBM would prolly try and make a power play too
you make it sound as if Linus was 87 years old with a terminal illness, G-d forbid.
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.
Not me, i plan to use human enhancement techniques to live forever:-)
Dog bites man.