The Evolution of Linux

Taiko writes: "Kerneltrap.org has posted some of the more interesting messages from a recent kernel mailing list discussion. It started with a post on proper indentation, but turned into something a bit more. There are some posts by Linus and Alan Cox about the nature of design, computer science, Linux development, evolution, and more. Quite interesting and funny."

Comments

Gotta be the first time...

[Evil Oli]

...that a post on proper indentation hasn't turned into a flame war :)

Kansas school board rejects Evolution

[JCCyC]

Will use Outlook only -- "Prayer will defend us from viruses", says school principal.

This will not do good for the acceptance of Linux in the Bible Belt -- Linux evolved through natural selection, while Windows was created by God.

linus approved kernel hacking procedure

[nusuth]

1- Get latest kernel source 2- Open a random file, go to a random location in that file 3- Roll a d100, use this table: 0-10 insert a random C keyword 11-20 delete nearest statement 21-50 define a new variable 51-80 delete a variable declaration 81-85 change your keyboard layout to some language, switch off monitor and start typing headlines of slashdot. Stop when you feel like it 86-90 delete rand(20) characters 91 delete file 92 merge file with other random 93 copy file with a new name 94 move file to another location 95+ merge file with a random C source from net 4- try building source. If all goes well,submit a patch. Otherwise roll d6, on 1-5 return to step 2, on a 6 return to step 1.

Re:linus approved kernel hacking procedure

[tijnbraun]

Indeed. Puts this quote from Linus in a totally new perspective:
"If it compiles, it's good. If it boots, it's perfect!"

Evolution vs. Creation

[seldolivaw]

Reading it, does anybody else get a strong sense of deja vu? It sounds like the two sides are arguing Evolution vs. Creationism -- well, they *are* -- but in this case they're arguing it over Linux instead of over human beings. Only in this case, we *know* there was a creator, and he says "I didn't create it, it evolved". Which makes me wonder if we ever did find the "creator" of human beings, and what would happen if he/she/it/they said the same thing about us :-) Picture it (and pardon my Eurocentricity):

Us: "God! At last we have found you! Now tell us, please... WHY ARE WE THE WAY WE ARE? WHY ARE WE HERE?"

God: "I dunno. I created you to eat the lions, and you just kinda got out of hand"

Don't do it Larry!

[teridon]

Linus to Larry McVoy: Are you indispensable for the continued well-being of humanity? I believe not, although you are of course free to disagree.

Don't take it too hard, Larry. Stay with us!

the author of life

[pkplex]

Gidday

I found it a little silly where Linus uses the theory of evolution as a way of describing open source development of the Linux kernel.

Reason being, is that Linus has not and will not write, create, develop, or however you wish to word it, any living things. Hypothetically, even if the 'source' for a grass seed were given to Linus in C/C++ format, I believe Linus would find it to be well and truly over his head, or anyone else's head for that matter. Its is life, which no man understands or can create.

In addition to this, The theory of evolution, is, still, a theory. And a poor one, IMO.

However the above is not to say that Linus is clued up in kernel development :)

Cheers

Re:Great stuff!

[damiam]

Yet another thing that the geek community could learn.