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Prof. Andy Tanenbaum Retires From Vrije University

Posted by timothy on from the congratulations-and-good-wishes dept.

When Linus Torvalds first announced his new operating system project ("just a hobby, won't be big and professional like gnu"), he aimed the announcement at users of Minix for a good reason: Minix (you can download the latest from the Minix home page) was the kind of OS that tinkerers could afford to look at, and it was intended as an educational tool. Minix's creator, Professor Andrew Stuart "Andy" Tanenbaum, described his academic-oriented microkernel OS as a hobby, too, in the now-famous online discussion with Linus and others. New submitter Thijssss (655388) writes with word that Tanenbaum, whose educational endeavors led indirectly to the birth of Linux, is finally retiring. "He has been at the Vrije Universiteit for 43 years, but everything must eventually end."

6 of 136 comments (clear)

  1. His epitaph in future years: by halivar · · Score: 5, Funny

    "Microkernels are still better, you little punk!" With an engraving of a shaking fist.

    1. Re:His epitaph in future years: by TeknoHog · · Score: 5, Funny

      The Linus vs. Tanenbaum dustup is from a simpler, more positive age.

      It's your father's microkernel. A more elegant weapon for a more civilized age.

      --
      Escher was the first MC and Giger invented the HR department.
  2. Re:"Vrije University"? by Trepidity · · Score: 4, Funny

    But then it gets ambiguous, because someone might think you mean Free University as in no tuition, rather than Free-as-in-Freedom University. And Liberty University is already taken.

    --
    10 PRINT CHR$(205.5+RND(1)); : GOTO 10
  3. Who gives a VUCK? by tepples · · Score: 3, Funny

    They have to use "Vrije" because it was discovered that not only is the name of "Free University Compiler Kit" obscene, but it's also misleading: the software is non-free.

  4. Re:"Vrije University"? by RyuuzakiTetsuya · · Score: 5, Funny

    Split it down the middle. GNUversity

    --
    Non impediti ratione cogitationus.
  5. Re:"Vrije University"? by rogoshen1 · · Score: 3, Funny

    Good, IPA's are way too hoppy.