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75% of Linux Code Now Written By Paid Developers

Posted by timothy on from the rest-kept-in-locked-cellar dept.

i_want_you_to_throw_ writes "During a presentation at Linux.conf.au 2010 in Wellington, LWN.net founder and kernel contributor Jonathan Corbet offered an analysis of the code contributed to the Linux kernel between December 24 2008 and January 10 2010. The Linux world makes much of its community roots, but when it comes to developing the kernel of the operating system, it's less a case of 'volunteers ahoy!' and more a case of 'where's my pay?'" It's not clear from the article why anyone should perceive a contradiction between having high ideals and getting paid to do something you enjoy.

5 of 368 comments (clear)

  1. Re:Good. Glad to Hear It. by Finallyjoined!!! · · Score: 0, Flamebait

    So, exactly how much are you paying for the Linux you rely on for your business?

    --
    If I had an Ass, I'd call it Fanny Bottom, then I could slap my Ass; Fanny Bottom, on the Arse.
  2. The Grownups Have Taken Over by Anonymous Coward · · Score: -1, Flamebait

    LOL! Let those mod points fly! Strike them down!

    Come on! Show us we're wrong. Go start a new 0.1pre-alpha text editor on SourceForge with that oh so important GPL license slapped on so no one steals your precious work. LOL...

    The computing world has left you incompetent clowns on the trashheap of computing history.

  3. Statistics by martin-boundary · · Score: -1, Flamebait
    And if we wait another 100 years, then 100% of Linux code will be written by historians. That's the power of statistics.

    Linux is a mature project, amounts of code written today have a minuscule impact on the overall project compared with amounts of code written in the late 90s. When all the heavy lifting was being done, where were all the paid developers then?

    Nothing to see here. Linux is as much a volunteer project as it has ever been. If companies are willing to pay for polishing the kernel, I have no objections.

  4. Because It Makes A Mockery Of Everything Held Holy by Anonymous Coward · · Score: -1, Flamebait

    How many years has it been listening to teenage Slashdot poster proclaiming the dawn of a new era was just around the corner? How many years has it been that Bearded GNU Freaks have been working toward their Retarded GNU Nirvana?

    Commercial, paid for software developers and companies were pitied. Claimed to be soon to be relics of a new era.

    They couldn't possibly compete with the Power of the Entire Internet/Open Source World.

    They couldn't possibly compete with the Million Eyes ensuring bugfree open source software.

    Google and Apple have made complete joke out of every single claim made here on Slashdot. Android, OS X, iPhone partially or fully the most free open source license, BSD, based. While Ubuntu and the open source world's cellphone efforts are jokes in the eyes of the rest of the world.

     

  5. Re:Oh, man... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: -1, Flamebait

    At least Ballmer hasn't killed anyone. Hans Reiser, anyone?