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Linus Torvalds Awarded the Millenial Technology Prize

Posted by Unknown on from the stems-cells-kernels-same-thing-right dept.

Karrde712 writes "In a first for the Millennium Technology Prize, both Laureates were awarded the prize. Linus Torvalds was recognized for the creation of the Linux kernel and its continuing impact on enhancing scientific progress throughout the world. Dr. Shinya Yamanaka was recognized for his work in the development of induced pluripotent stem cells for medical research." New submitter Elessar wrote in about the BBC's related interview with Linus "... touching on many subjects including Linux on the desktop, Raspberry Pi, and the weirdness of his employment contract." (He did another one with Linux.com earlier this week too).

21 of 91 comments (clear)

  1. Don't you mean... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    Don't you mean GNU/Linus Torvalds Awarded the Millenial Technology Prize?

    -

    rms

    1. Re:Don't you mean... by amazeofdeath · · Score: 3, Informative

      No, because the prize was awarded for developing just the kernel.

      --
      U+F8FF
    2. Re:Don't you mean... by jellomizer · · Score: 5, Informative

      Well Linus was mostly on the Linux Kernel. The Linux Kernel isn't GNU/Linux. Technically you can build an OS off the Linux Kernel, that isn't "Unixy" at all. The GNU (GNU Not Unix) is model to make a Unix like system without any Unix Code (unlike Free/Open/Net/... BSD) Most of what we call Linux Distributions is the GNU/Linux OS packaged with custom set of software.
      However you could make an OS that doesn't look or feel like Linux or Unix. Off the Linux kernel, (with perhaps some similar boot messages) But the OS would work and behave quite differently.

      --
      If something is so important that you feel the need to post it on the internet... It probably isn't that important.
    3. Re:Don't you mean... by bleedingsamurai · · Score: 2

      Like Novell OES-Linux and Cisco NX-OS.

      I think Android would still be considered a Unix through and through (going purely on behavior rather then trademarks and licensing)

      I always found it weird that you could just plop a non-Unix user space right on top of a Unix kernel. But I guess with enough abstraction anything is possible.

    4. Re:Don't you mean... by X0563511 · · Score: 2

      You're an idiot. Linux is the kernel. The kernel boots and runs whatever it's told to (usually configured to run /sbin/init). You don't get GNU until that point.

      --
      For large sets, this will be our guide even unto death, for the LORD will work for each type of data it is applied to...
    5. Re:Don't you mean... by kthreadd · · Score: 2

      For how many users is the GNU userland important anymore? I bet Google Chrome is much more used these days. GNU is irrelevant.

  2. So sick of this.. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    I'm sick of this guy being recognized for inventing the Linux kernel just because his name is similar... when will people realize RMS invented Linux?

    1. Re:So sick of this.. by SJHillman · · Score: 5, Insightful

      The way I understand it is that Torvalds came up with the kernel (which is what's being recognized here), but RMS created many of the other tools that turn Linux from a kernel into a full fledged operating system. Without both of them, Linux probably wouldn't have been successful.

    2. Re:So sick of this.. by marcello_dl · · Score: 2

      Or possibly, if linux hadn't featured the gpl, it would be a niche OS with a version developed by apple or some other giants whose patents make it impossible to keep the free version on par with features.
      But speculaton on what could have happened is pointless.
      OTOH speculation on the future.... possibly linux in VMs or other security frameworks will be used for general and specialized purposes, until the guys running 20 VMs on their 16 core cellphones start to wonder if they would be better off with the microkernel approach. In other words, linus was right, tanenbaum wiil be right.

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      ---- MISSING MISCELLANEOUS DATA SEGMENT --- [sigdash] trolololol
    3. Re:So sick of this.. by Millennium · · Score: 5, Interesting

      The thing with this is that RMS didn't invent Linux. He, among others, developed a set of tools that can be run on a number of Unix-like kernels, including Linux, but Linux itself is Linus' baby. The GNU toolset actually predates Linux itself.

      A surprising number of Linux systems don't run the GNU toolset at all. When you count Busybox and similar minimalist toolsets (which are GPL-licensed but not maintained by GNU, at this point in time there might even be more Linux/not-GNU devices than there are GNU/Linux devices.

  3. Re:Spelling Error by abigor · · Score: 2

    Not to mention "millennial". Look how many times it's misspelled in the summary.

  4. Congratulations Linus by FudRucker · · Score: 5, Insightful

    thanks to Linus and his colleagues and the many other FOSS/GNU/Linux developers we have many cool Linux distros to choose from, kudos to all who made it happen!

    --
    Politics is Treachery, Religion is Brainwashing
    1. Re:Congratulations Linus by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Funny

      "we have many cool Linux distros to choose from"

      and fight over.

      Linux User 1 "Why the hell would you use that distro, should be Umbongo"

      Linux User 2 "Umbongo suck! Use Frisky Ferret"

      Linux User 3 "Frisky Ferret? That piece of shite - you need Smint"

      Linux User 4 "the year of Linux on the desktop!"

      etc. ad infinitum

    2. Re:Congratulations Linus by bleedingsamurai · · Score: 2, Funny

      They didn't port Hurd to the Emacs platform yet. That is why it wasn't as successful.

    3. Re:Congratulations Linus by elashish14 · · Score: 3, Insightful

      Agreed, and it's the community that's so important. When you consider how versatile and ubiquitous the kernel is, you have to understand that it takes an extremely broad and diverse community of developers and other contributors to make it possible. Compare this to Microsoft, who can barely manage to port their operating system to ARM, and somehow they're raking in hundreds of billions of dollars.

      Even if you cast all of Linus' software development contibutions aside, the fact that he started such a diverse and prodigious community is worthy of several awards on its own.

      --
      I have left slashdot and am now on Soylent News. FUCK YOU DICE.
  5. Comment removed by account_deleted · · Score: 4, Funny

    Comment removed based on user account deletion

  6. Re:Spelling Error by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Informative

    And it's not even called the Millennial Technology Prize - it's called the Millennium Technology Prize. So doubly incorrect.

  7. Congrats! by kvvbassboy · · Score: 4, Interesting

    That's awesome, Linus! Congrats, you really deserve it for revolutionizing software development twice in the last two decades.

    1. Re:Congrats! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Insightful

      It's really nice to see a technology revolutionist reaping some financial rewards in his lifetime, too. A check for 600,000 euros goes a long way towards setting him up for life financially, and considering his ongoing efforts to further the Linux kernel, I think we want him to be able to do that and not to worry about his next paycheck. If the Linux Foundation ever goes tits up, he won't be at risk of losing the roof over his head (and over his computers)(and over his wife and children). That's all to the good.

  8. This site has gone to shit by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2

    Now we've got a bunch of comments attacking Linus Torvalds! Are the people on here so desperate to be contrary and hip that they will support literally ANY non-mainstream viewpoint?

    We complain about slashdot's stories creating misleading controversy through provocative headlines and summaries.

    But we get a story where we can say "Thanks, Linus - you did good" - and we fill it with stupid bickering. No wonder nobody important posts here any more (not under their real names, anyway).

  9. Too tame to be real Torvaldsian answers by Dystopian+Rebel · · Score: 4, Funny

    This is a plant by some Linux shill. Real Torvaldsian answers include calling people morons and telling them that they should just die.

    Assangians Assemble! Let's get the full transcript from the BBC and see what Linus REALLY said!

    --
    Rich And Stupid is not so bad as Working For Rich And Stupid.