Torvalds Says It's No Picnic To Become Major Linux Coder

Jack Spine writes "Linus Torvalds has given an interview to ZDNet.co.uk about the trials and tribulations of becoming a Linux kernel developer. 'Torvalds said that, while it is 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. "It's definitely not easy to become a 'big contributor'," wrote Torvalds. "For one thing, the kernel is quite complex and big, and it inevitably simply takes time to learn all the rules — not just for the code, but for how the whole development environment works. Similarly, for a new developer, it will take time before people start recognising the name and start trusting the developer to do the right things.""

Comments

Haven't heard of him.

[Neuroelectronic]

Who is this No Picnic fellow? I don't believe there is a new major Linux contributer.

Re:Haven't heard of him.

[Barsteward]

Me neither but maybe he's one sandwich short of a picnic to want to become a major kernel developer, i heard it helps

Re:Haven't heard of him.

[Anonymous Coward]

That isn't so hard to parse. MagLev, which is a Ruby Virtual Machine running on Gemstone Object Oriented Database, impresses people at the Rails Conference.

Wow! I R SMART!

Re:Haven't heard of him.

[jonaskoelker]

Who is this No Picnic fellow?

I found some old army personnel files, containing references to a Sgt. Linux Coder. I think No Picnic is his new codename.

"No Picnic to Anthill. No Picnic to Anthill! Come in, Anthill! I've spotted several enemy pointers, sir! They're marching rank and file system straight to our intelligence page table. Shall I noexecute them, sir?"

Re:Haven't heard of him.

[jonaskoelker]

It has been said that:

TFA is a wholly remarkable book. It's already supplanted Operating Systems: Design and Implementation as the standard repository of all knowledge and wisdom, for two important reasons. First, it's slightly cheaper; and secondly it has the words DON'T PICNIC printed in large friendly letters on its cover.

;)

In other news...

[Dorkmaster Flek]

Kernel development is hard! Film at 11.

Learning the rules

[Fnord666]

"...and it inevitably simply takes time to learn all the rules..."

1. Linus is always right
2. If in doubt, see rule #1

Re:Learning the rules

[SlipperHat]

Yes, but trick is that since you can't constantly be bugging Linus for all the answers, you have to know what his opinion is without asking him. That's the tough part.

Skills required in Linux kernel development:
...
Mindreading
...

Andy's revenge

[Stormwatch]

For one thing, the kernel is quite complex and big

If that's the problem, wouldn't it be easier to work on it if it was a microkernel?

Re:Andy's revenge

[gardyloo]

Long answer: Fuck no.

    (From Stephen Fry)

It can't be THAT hard

[Rik Sweeney]

Surely you only need to know a bunch of C keywords and you should be set. Here's the bunch I know

malloc
free
<<
>>
++
--
That star thingy I see every now and again.

I might have a look at this so called complicated kernel later :)

Re:It can't be THAT hard

[howlingmadhowie]

he's heard of 'free'! quick! someone offer him a job!

Re:It can't be THAT hard

[joss]

at mozilla

Re:Allegiances

[KasperMeerts]

You forgetting these are full-time kernel developers. They would offer their firstborn son in exchange for a 0.049% better scheduler if they could ever have partners.

Re:huh

[b4dc0d3r]

Mod parent down. I don't recognize him, therefore he can't know what he's talking about.

Re:Allegiances

[bigstrat2003]

3. The Joker writes a new improved scheduler which has the potential to replace the old one.

when (process.wantsToRun) {
retort(process, "Why so serious!?");
kill(process);
}

Very efficient. I like it.

No picnic

[Captain Spam]

Of course it's no picnic to become a major Linux coder. It takes two luncheons, a dinner date, three nonconsecutive brunches, and an order of take-out to do that!

Re:I gave up a few times

[SpooForBrains]

Although I might consider mainlining it again

Don't! A recent study found that kernel hacking is fifty time worse than heroin.

Re:Still easier than coding the Windows Kernel

[Anonymous Coward]

At Microsoft, working on the kernel pays as a fulltime job

They pay monkeys to bash keys nowadays?

I don't get it

[papabob]

Can you explain your point of view with a car analogy, please?

Kernel Coder?

[Anonymous Coward]

The summary says Major Coder, but I thought this was about the wannabe Colonel Coder? Makes more sense to be Major Geek or General Failure, than Major Coder. Could even be Private Variable, but that guy doesn't get much exposure since he's always out of scope.

No problemo.

[fahrbot-bot]

Similarly, for a new developer, it will take time before people start recognising the name and start trusting the developer to do the right things.

Simply Photoshop yourself into a few choice picts with Linus and start blathering on about "spin locks" or some such stuff...

and remember

[Fallen Andy]

to pick up both the knife and the fork...

Re:I gave up a few times

[x2A]

Worse? ... or... better? :-D

I dunno, all I've tried in the past is an SQL injection.

Re:Still easier than coding the Windows Kernel

[GooberToo]

His experiences are far from unique. The problem is the gnome guys have huge egos and anyone offering suggestions are often meet with disdain.

In the link provided above, it's not like Linus' comments are off base in the least. That's hardly egotistical. From the article it's obvious he already did the footwork. He already made an effort. The developers even confirmed it not only does not do what he wanted but they would not do it. He then went off to put his money where his mouth was. To summarize, this means Linus did the right thing and the Gnome developer are shamed and proved impotent, because of their own huge egos.

While I much prefer Gnome to KDE, it has long been screwed over by ignorance and huge egos from none other than Gnome's own Miguel Icaza.

Re:Wisdumb

[Anonymous Coward]

I am a major slacker, and it was very easy for me to become one. You'r wrong.