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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.

3 of 368 comments (clear)

  1. Re:I'll be the first to say... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    Lines of code written for money are evil and execute more slowly.

  2. Re:Good. Glad to Hear It. by nacturation · · Score: 5, Funny

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

    $699. I thought everyone paid this.

    --
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  3. Re:Because It Makes A Mockery Of Everything Held H by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    6/10. Moderately good troll, but don't try to be all things to all people.

    You can make a good case pointing out that this has happened millions of times before, and you can make a good case that cell phones are making a laughingstock of OSS, but trying both makes you seem confusing.

    If you want an AC's advice, focus on the cell phone angle. Keep saying that Android & OS X are based on FOSS but go beyond their base in ways that the open source community never could. Try to blur the line between hardware and software (Apple, Apple, Nexus One, Apple!) and say that because you can't have a computer without hardware, which is propietary, there is no such thing as a good open source computer.

    And then blur it all into websites. Google is a company and a lot of FOSS people use Google, therefore they are hypocrites and can't handle living in the world they push on everyone else. Then focus back on cell phones. Go for the 'the average user doesn't care about FOSS' angle - they hate that - and demand a 100% free piece of hardware to run a 100% free OS. If you somehow get a bite by someone who interprets 'free' as 'unlocked' then talk about how they paid five times the price and switch your argument to support - again, cite Google as proprietary.

    I hope to hear from you again! Good luck!