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Linus Torvalds No Longer Knows the Whole Linux Kernel and That's OK (eweek.com)
darthcamaro writes: In a wide-ranging conversation at the Open Source Summit, Linus Torvalds admitted that he no longer knows everything that's in LInux. "Nobody knows the whole kernel anymore," Torvalds said. "Having looked at patches for many years, I know the big picture of all the areas in the kernel and I can look at a patch and know if it's right or wrong." Overall, he emphasized that being open source has enabled Linux to attract new developers that can pick up code and maintain all the various systems in Linux. In his view, the only way to deal with complexity is to be open. "When you have complexity you can't manage it in a closed environment, you need to have the people that actually find problems and give them the ability to get involved and help you to fix them," Torvalds said. "It's a complicated world and the only way to deal with complexity is the open exchange of ideas."
I'll bite the flamebait regarding monolithic vs micro kernels.
The assertion that Torvalds not knowing all of what in Linux simply means that those subsystems were logically delegated out. In a microkernel, those same subsystem functions would still be done by a different group, except they wouldn't be in kernel.
Simply because a kernel is "monolithic" doesn't mean that there aren't subsystems that your primary kernel architect needs to fully understand. For example, a video driver. That's very specific knowledge that you wouldn't expect Torvalds to really need to know.
In a lot of ways Torvalds has moved on to more of a project manager/architect role than just a straight code hacker.
What did Linus say when you used your obviously elite dev skills to rewrite sk_buff elegantly and submitted it to him and his team for review?
Guns don't kill people; Physics kills people! - John Lithgow as Dick Solomon on Third Rock From The Sun
Linus says it is OK (as in not some OMFG issue to be concerned about) and the reporter reported that. DOH!
Guns don't kill people; Physics kills people! - John Lithgow as Dick Solomon on Third Rock From The Sun
"It's a complicated world and the only way to deal with complexity is the open exchange of ideas."
This is a quote that Mr. Torvalds should be known for, forever. It applies to much more than just software.
It is pitch black. You are likely to be eaten by a grue.