Messages in this thread | | | Date | Thu, 25 Feb 1999 12:24:19 -0800 (PST) | From | "Robert G. Werner" <> | Subject | Re: People need to say "no" |
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I speak with great trepidation bcause I can't claim your experience or undertanding of operating systems. So please forgive me if I in my ignorance say something silly or insulting. That said, I think you are over estimating our (the Linux community) place in the development of Linux. Linus gets to decide. It is his decision, and wheather we like it or not, we have to live with this fact because ultimately the kernel was his idea. Sure we depend on him to make good decisions but he depends on himself making good decisions so he doesn't have to wear a bag over his head for the rest of his life. Now, I like to see lots of discusion about all the stuff that is happening in the kernel and beyond. How else can new and useful ideas be developed and explored without discussion. Even more important is code and benchmarks showing performance (of secondary necessity is some explanation of what is going on so that us novices might come to understanding). But in the end, Linus decides. It is his right and the responsibility he has taken on. I'm very grateful to him for his commitment to excelence. I hope this never changes, the idea that one person ultimately takes personal responsibility for what direction the linux kernel goes in. Hopefully there will be some smooth way to transition another person into that status if/when Linus ever decides to retire/die(God grant that this day be manny, many years in the future long after his daughers have become famous hackers in their own right ;-)). But why should we shut down exploration of ideas until such time as Linus makes his position on an issue clear. When he cares about an element of the kerenl, Linus isn't shy about saying "This will never happen!!!" If you are trying to convince people that hard_RT is real and the exo kernel is the only way to do it, then Linus is the only one who has to be conviced. Until he says one way or the other, what harm is there in playing with ideas? As far as I know, Richard Gooch doesn't get to commit linux to any one path. Neither do you or I. Don't worry so much. I think we are muddling through on the right track. And if, somehow, we manage to get so confused that Linux ceases to exist as it does now, there will be others. Open source opperating systems are here to stay and have been for quite a while. Mostly we need to keep having fun.
Robert G. Werner rwerner@lx1.microbsys.com Impeach Conggress!!
If the girl you love moves in with another guy once, it's more than enough. Twice, it's much too much. Three times, it's the story of your life.
On Thu, 25 Feb 1999, Larry McVoy wrote:
> It looks like the pseudo-RT stuff is coming back which suggests that we > might have another lovely flamefest on the topic. I wanted to explain why > I repeatedly get involved in these obviously painful discussions. [snip]
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