Interview With BitKeeper Author Larry McVoy

Jeremy Andrews writes "KernelTrap has spoken with Larry McVoy, BitMover founder and primary BitKeeper author. BitKeeper, a distributed source control system, has been adopted by Linux kernel creator Linus Torvalds and condemned by free software icon Richard Stallman. In this interview, Larry looks back through the years, describing his exposure to computers and Linux. He also discusses the history of BitKeeper, from writing NSElite for Sun (which turned into their still used SCM, Teamware), to his desire to keep Linus from burning out, to the present day solution. The choice to not license BitKeeper under the GPL is also explained. Larry discusses much beyond Bitkeeper as well, exploring some of his other interests. Find the full interview on KernelTrap."

Comments

Re:free... as in freedom?

[MrFredBloggs]

"In other words Stallman is making an effort to limit their freedom with their own product"

No, he`s suggesting they change. He`s not trying to limit anything. Such wilfil falsehoods are very tedious, and easy to see through, so whats the point?

Re:free... as in freedom?

[TechnoVooDooDaddy]

i've got mana to burn so here goes..

Stallman is all his way or no way. And when someone else has another idea, or wants to do things differently, he has issues. Linus wrote the kernel. Period. RMS can go back to Hurd or whatever if he doesn't like Linus. I personally don't blame linus one bit for switching from CVS, i've maintained CVS crap before, and it can be a hassle.. If Linus has found something that works better for him, what place does RMS have to condemn that?

Re:free... as in freedom?

[Anonymous Coward]

Stallman is all his way or no way. And when someone else has another idea, or wants to do things differently, he has issues.

Stallman's way is freedom. Therefore other ways are non-freedom. Why should he or anyone else accept non-freedom?