The story of the Linux kernel

Todd Bradshaw wrote in with an excerpt from Linus' chapter in "Open Sources: Voices from the Open Source Revolution". Linus' number one rule for keeping the kernel healthy is to avoid new system interfaces.

Comments

Linus, the great diplomat

[Thandor]

I think the thing that shone through in this article is that Linus is one of the world's great diplomats. Although he'd probably deny it, saying he's just pragmatic, I think it's true. He's just modest, a trait that goes hand in hand with being diplomatic.

Take, for example, the way he manages to mention Windows NT several times in a less than complimentary way, without ever sounding like he was being condescending, or "Microsoft bashing".

Or the way he manages to bring home his point against microkernel architecture. He made points that coming from most people would have been flamebait, but from him seem little more than quiet assertions of the truth, due to his modest and humble manner. Then again, Linux is probably proof that this assertions are in fact truth.

I'm not saying that the article was brilliant, in fact I thought it served to highlight the difference between a great author and a great computer scientist. That is, the article, while doubtlessly interesting and informative, lacked an artist's touch (much like certain operating systems in fact). However, it did yet again highlight what makes Linus such a good kernel maintainer - his people skills are first class. It's something that unfortunately can't be said for enough CS people, which is probably why Linus stands out so much.

I think this is the reason why many people, myself included, have the greatest amount of respect for people like Linus. For in being a pragmatist, while the world hasn't benefitted (or suffered!) from any great ideas of his own, his contribution in helping people come from often vastly different views to meet in the middle ground has more than made up for that.

So while I respect RMS as the rightful "Saint of free software", as I respect various other "celebrities" of the free software/open source world, I think that what Linus has done is far greater. That is, in the way he has managed to bring people together (not just with code, but also with his words) rather than tear them apart over a relentless pursuit of an ideal, as some have done. Perhaps he realises, in his more balanced world view, that the end does not justify the means, nor, just as importantly, does the means justify the end.

It's probably no coincidence that Linus is generally reluctant to offer his opinion on things, and when he does he tends to be brief and to the point. Perhaps that's a hint that I've said enough! :)