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Linus Explains his Patch Policy

Posted by chrisd on from the read-it-twice dept.

An anonymous reader writes "For everyone who has been wondering the method behind Linus's seeming madness of accepting or dropping patches, he has finally given a thorough explanation. A must read for anyone who wants to get their favorite feature into the next release of the kernel."

31 of 371 comments (clear)

  1. Policy... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0, Funny

    Did anyone else read that as EYE patch policy?

    No?

    Me either.

    ARRR MATEY

  2. You Linux guys are cool by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 4, Funny

    I'm running Windows and I still haven't found how to tell Microsoft where I want to go today.

    1. Re:You Linux guys are cool by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

      I've told them where I wanted to go several times but they just charged me $99 for the phone call. Then I told them where to go but since they had my credit card on file it cost another $99.

  3. Tree by MutantEnemy · · Score: 4, Funny
    "The only thing you are ENTITLED to is to have your own tree."

    Cool! Thanks Linus. Can you get it here in time for Christmas? ;-)

    --
    Grr! Arg!
    1. Re:Tree by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 4, Funny

      You wouldn't want one.

      Linus doesn't choose the trees himself, he has his manic-depressive friend Charlie do it for him and he always picks the worst tree on the lot every year.

  4. Actual Quote... by Metallic+Matty · · Score: 4, Funny

    "Well, first I write down my options, and then I drop a pen from about 5 feet up and..."

  5. Don't get in a fight with Linus. by Hektor_Troy · · Score: 4, Funny

    Especially when he's drunk. We all know, that Finns carry around huge knives to cut off the balls of polar bears, when they (the Finns that is) go on a binge.

    Being a whiney user just might move you from the "human" to the "polar bear" category.

    --
    We do not live in the 21st century. We live in the 20 second century.
  6. Great Pumpkin by Frank+of+Earth · · Score: 5, Funny

    That
    tree is called "Linus' tree" for a reason. The only thing you are
    ENTITLED to is to have your own tree.

    Linus

    Now if you'll excuse me, I'll go back to waiting for the great pumpkin to arrive.

    --
    Live web cams
    1. Re:Great Pumpkin by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

      Shouldn't it be the "Linii tree"?

  7. My dog by n08ody · · Score: 1, Funny

    But the really important thing, the thing that really makes a difference, is that you, your dog, and your company can make your OWN changes.


    My dog is really a code monkey

  8. Comparison of Linux and BSD development process by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    Linux: Patches accepted based on what Linus thinks is good
    BSD: Patches accepted based on what will run on the MrCoffee port

    Linux: Patches to support new hardware added quickly
    BSD: That better be an ISA network card...

    Linux: VM changes cause instability in "stable" kernel branch
    BSD: VM is old and slow, but you can use punchcards as swap. Isn't that neat?

    Linux: It's for people who like to tinker
    BSD: It's for people who think Debian-stable is too bleeding edge

  9. Re:Great! by Charlton+Heston · · Score: 5, Funny

    Here is my current tree:

    int main () {
    printf ("Hello, World\n"); /* ??????? */ /* PROFIT! */
    return 0;
    }

    Please send me patches, thanks.

    --
    Get your stinking paws off me you damn dirty ape
  10. Linus being sexist? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0, Funny

    From the message (highlight in quotes):

    (b) If you can't convince me, convince somebody else. Maybe that somebody else is somebody I trust, and that somebody else feels that I was wrong and since '_he_' believes in the project 'he' will try to convince me about it.

    So, Mr. Torvalds only accept patches from MALE programmers, is it? I don't care who you are, but that is SEXIST thinking! Shame on you Linus, you should have read the 'HOWTO Encourage Women in Linux' article[1] before writing inflammatory comments. I wouldn't want to be the receiving end of the karate chop from a black belt wife if I were you. But then again, I am not you...

  11. I think having one good tree is nice. by krog · · Score: 3, Funny

    But then, I use NetBSD.

    --
    Cretin - a powerful and flexible CD reencoder
  12. Hey! Wait a minute! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

    He mentions the -ac tree... isn't it like OUR tree? I mean, OUR, slashdottish Anonymous Coward tree?

    I am not sure what this is all about anymore!

    LUNIX IS TO COMPLICATED!!!!!!!1!

    1. Re:Hey! Wait a minute! by jdunn14 · · Score: 2, Funny

      Apparently the differences between 'too', 'to', and 'two' are too complicated too =). Oooooo feel the alliteration.

  13. Reject this! :) by AsparagusChallenge · · Score: 2, Funny

    2c2
    < printf ("Hello, World\n"); /* ??????? */ /* PROFIT! */
    ---
    > kprintf ("Hello, World\n");

  14. Interesting. by rice_burners_suck · · Score: 4, Funny
    I made a patch that makes Linux crash immediately upon startup, and I DEMAND that Linus include it in his tree. I will accept no answer except 'yes' and I will whine about it non-stop until it happens to my satisfaction. And, yes, I strongly believe that my whining and complaining, four hours before feature freeze, will cause Linus to include my patch just to shut me up.

    In other words, I totally comprehend his message and as such, I'll place his suggestions in effect immediately.

  15. Your tree, his tree, her tree... by FireballFreddy · · Score: 2, Funny

    This is my tree. There are many like it but this one is mine.

    -FF

    (If you don't get that, do us all a favor and moderate something else.)

    --
    SQUEAK, the Death of Rats explained.
  16. And the Winner Is... by fizban · · Score: 1, Funny

    *slap* *slap*
    "You like that, bitch?"
    *slap* *slap*
    "You want some more, bitch?"
    *slap* "
    Yeah?"
    *slap*
    "Uh, huh!"
    *slap*
    "That's right, byatch!"
    *slap* *slap*

    I just saw a bitch-slapping by Linus, and oooooh, I liked it!

    --

    +1 Insightful, -1 Troll. What can I say, I'm an Insightful Troll.

  17. Re:Patches? We don' need no steenking Patches! by dildatron · · Score: 5, Funny

    if anything to do with OS kernels gives you warm fuzzies, your geekhood far surpasses mine...

    --


    If you had nuts on your chin, would they be chin nuts?
  18. No, no, no... by Ignominious+Cow+Herd · · Score: 1, Funny

    You're supposed to tell Them where to go.

    --
    Lump lingered last in line for brains, and the ones she got were sorta rotten and insane.
  19. Tree discussions always ome up near christmass... by eyefish · · Score: 5, Funny

    is it only me, or has anyone noticed over the years that "tree" discussions always come up near christmass time???

    Chould we call this the Linus Christmass Tree phenomenom?

  20. Re:It's my kernel... by satanami69 · · Score: 4, Funny

    Thanks Thomas.

    --
    I really hate Dan Patrick.
  21. yes! by nebenfun · · Score: 2, Funny

    knifefight between linus and rms!

    or better known as the
    "Penguin Man vs Rabid Crazy Man Battle Royale"
    at stake the naming rights to linux

    all $$$ goes to the microsoft legal defense fund

    nbfn

  22. Re:so basically.. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

    but linus, do you leave the toilet seat up afterwards? And should the toilet paper go over or under?

  23. Re:Great! by Permission+Denied · · Score: 5, Funny
    Please send me patches, thanks.

    Portability fix, standards compliance:

    0a1,2
    > #include <stdio.h>
    >
  24. God I hate Plantlife by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    So I send all of my childhood attempting to get into girls bushes and failing. Now I spend my entire adult life failing to get in another mans' tree.

    Shouldn't this all balance out at some point?

  25. Full Metal Kernel by nhtshot · · Score: 4, Funny

    "This is my tree. There are many like it, but this one is mine." - Linus

  26. Re:Tree discussions always ome up near christmass. by cant_get_a_good_nick · · Score: 3, Funny

    Considering the week, I suspect more of a 'great pumpkin' phenomenon.

    So Linus still believes in the Great Pumpkin? ARRRRRGGGGGHHHHHHH!!!!!!!

    Yes, I should be slapped for that. Good grief....

  27. Re:how about this by global_diffusion · · Score: 4, Funny

    Quoting Linux from his post

    Ah, I was wondering who they named 'Linux' after...