6 ms·

You somehow make it unclear whether or not Linus not being a multi-billionaire is a good or a bad thing. Are you saying that because he didn't try to monetize

You somehow make it unclear whether or not Linus not being a multi-billionaire is a good or a bad thing. Are you saying that because he didn't try to monetize his code as much as he could have, it somehow makes his opinion less valuable? The man created Linux AND git, it doesn't matter whether or not he's got billions. He's got something more important than that, a legacy.

wingerlang 10y ago
> He's got something more important than that, a legacy. Why is that important?
- circlefavshape 10y ago
  Linus Torvalds' work has been useful to me, and to you, and to many other people. That's surely more important than whether or not he is rich
  - anjc 10y ago
    ?! Surely that completely depends on whether or not he'd like compensation for your convenience.
    - circlefavshape 10y ago
      Well, if you're considering only what's important for him then yes. Otherwise no
- VeejayRampay 10y ago
  In my opinion, a legacy like that of Linus means that he's produced a piece of software that has positively impacted the lives of people. It's important because he's actually delivered on the famous SV con-artist promise of "making the world a better place". Not directly, as in curing diseases or revolutionizing energy production or consumption, but in ways that help people in developing countries access information due to falling costs of computers (Linux) and phones (Linux through Android) and people in business can thrive because of the diversity it brings to the table (versus the Microsoft quasi-monopoly we had before). That's what I put under the umbrella term "legacy", something that has, in a way and ever so slightly, changed the world for the better. Then again, we might say "it's just software", but in a software-centric world, I reckon it does matter.
  - anjc 10y ago
    Positively impacting lives is surely important. That's besides the point. My point is that working without selling is not a viable strategy for 99% of people. Hell it barely worked for him in terms of earnings, and he's one of the most impactful people in tech history.
    - VeejayRampay 10y ago
      It's not besides THE point, it's besides YOUR point, big difference. Suppose that what matters is to monetize your work. Then by that metric, Linus is immensely successful (personal worth of over 100 million dollars, which likely puts him in the high brackets). Now suppose (like I do) that the metric that actually matters is sharing the result of your work so that others will build upon that and end up creating even greater things. Well, by that other metric, Linus is still a HUGE winner. So we're basically both right (unless of course we're ready to discuss obvious falsehoods such as "Having 100 million dollars means it barely worked for you").
- bad_user 10y ago
  On your deathbed, are you going to regret not making more money? If your basic needs have been met and your children have been well educated and aren't starving, then the answer is probably no. But many of us will regret not spending more time with our loved ones, or not leaving something of value behind, something we created. The truth is many of us aren't doing this for the money, because let's be honest, most of us have an IQ over average and we could work in the finance industry, which is far more lucrative for making actual money. Or we could build a local business selling products or services for local needs, not "disrupting" anything in the process. Or we could end up in upper the management of big corporations, in safe and high paying positions, instead of doing the actual coding. Etc, etc. We, the software developers, are creating, we've got the creator's virus. It's both a blessing and a curse. Oh and if any recruiters are reading this, those of us with passion, experience and capacity for solving hard problems might be motivated by technologies or projects, but we aren't cheap or exploitable, so for as long as we are on the right side of the demand/supply curve if you're looking for cheap, then GTFO!
  - anjc 10y ago
    Nice romantic view but the fact is that 95% of people in the western world can't afford society's perceptions of "basic needs". I'd wager that most people you hear talking about innovation, outside of Websummit and so on, are living hand-to-mouth and very much need to sell their ideas.
    - bad_user 10y ago
      Those people you're talking about should move outside of Silicon Valley. There's a whole world out there where you can live quite a comfortable lifestyle for a half or even a third of your average SV monthly income. Seriously, money is a matter of hygiene and if you're feeling the need for more, it's time to make a serious change, like to change city or profession, because startups are a lottery.
      - anjc 10y ago
        Well your pay is going to decline in accordance with the cost of living. I'm mainly talking about salaried jobs here, I don't know how profitable the average startup is (I'm guessing 'not very')
- bananarepdev 10y ago
  It's just my opinion, but given the current values of the Western socienties, producing something that greatly improves your knowledge area or industry is perceived as a more noble goal than accumulating wealth. It can get you in a history book at least.
CryoLogic 10y ago
Also - it is possible that as a commercial product, Linux would not have had the same level of success as it does today.
soheil 10y ago
It's not black and white, good or bad, that's the OP's point, it depends. If your goal is to accumulate wealth perhaps LT did it wrong, if your goal is to build something great then you should perhaps choose his route. Those goals may intersect and that's great, but that's not a necessary condition.

wingerlang 10y ago

> He's got something more important than that, a legacy. Why is that important?

circlefavshape 10y ago
Linus Torvalds' work has been useful to me, and to you, and to many other people. That's surely more important than whether or not he is rich
- anjc 10y ago
  ?! Surely that completely depends on whether or not he'd like compensation for your convenience.
  - circlefavshape 10y ago
    Well, if you're considering only what's important for him then yes. Otherwise no
VeejayRampay 10y ago
In my opinion, a legacy like that of Linus means that he's produced a piece of software that has positively impacted the lives of people. It's important because he's actually delivered on the famous SV con-artist promise of "making the world a better place". Not directly, as in curing diseases or revolutionizing energy production or consumption, but in ways that help people in developing countries access information due to falling costs of computers (Linux) and phones (Linux through Android) and people in business can thrive because of the diversity it brings to the table (versus the Microsoft quasi-monopoly we had before). That's what I put under the umbrella term "legacy", something that has, in a way and ever so slightly, changed the world for the better. Then again, we might say "it's just software", but in a software-centric world, I reckon it does matter.
- anjc 10y ago
  Positively impacting lives is surely important. That's besides the point. My point is that working without selling is not a viable strategy for 99% of people. Hell it barely worked for him in terms of earnings, and he's one of the most impactful people in tech history.
  - VeejayRampay 10y ago
    It's not besides THE point, it's besides YOUR point, big difference. Suppose that what matters is to monetize your work. Then by that metric, Linus is immensely successful (personal worth of over 100 million dollars, which likely puts him in the high brackets). Now suppose (like I do) that the metric that actually matters is sharing the result of your work so that others will build upon that and end up creating even greater things. Well, by that other metric, Linus is still a HUGE winner. So we're basically both right (unless of course we're ready to discuss obvious falsehoods such as "Having 100 million dollars means it barely worked for you").
bad_user 10y ago
On your deathbed, are you going to regret not making more money? If your basic needs have been met and your children have been well educated and aren't starving, then the answer is probably no. But many of us will regret not spending more time with our loved ones, or not leaving something of value behind, something we created. The truth is many of us aren't doing this for the money, because let's be honest, most of us have an IQ over average and we could work in the finance industry, which is far more lucrative for making actual money. Or we could build a local business selling products or services for local needs, not "disrupting" anything in the process. Or we could end up in upper the management of big corporations, in safe and high paying positions, instead of doing the actual coding. Etc, etc. We, the software developers, are creating, we've got the creator's virus. It's both a blessing and a curse. Oh and if any recruiters are reading this, those of us with passion, experience and capacity for solving hard problems might be motivated by technologies or projects, but we aren't cheap or exploitable, so for as long as we are on the right side of the demand/supply curve if you're looking for cheap, then GTFO!
- anjc 10y ago
  Nice romantic view but the fact is that 95% of people in the western world can't afford society's perceptions of "basic needs". I'd wager that most people you hear talking about innovation, outside of Websummit and so on, are living hand-to-mouth and very much need to sell their ideas.
  - bad_user 10y ago
    Those people you're talking about should move outside of Silicon Valley. There's a whole world out there where you can live quite a comfortable lifestyle for a half or even a third of your average SV monthly income. Seriously, money is a matter of hygiene and if you're feeling the need for more, it's time to make a serious change, like to change city or profession, because startups are a lottery.
    - anjc 10y ago
      Well your pay is going to decline in accordance with the cost of living. I'm mainly talking about salaried jobs here, I don't know how profitable the average startup is (I'm guessing 'not very')
bananarepdev 10y ago
It's just my opinion, but given the current values of the Western socienties, producing something that greatly improves your knowledge area or industry is perceived as a more noble goal than accumulating wealth. It can get you in a history book at least.

CryoLogic 10y ago

Also - it is possible that as a commercial product, Linux would not have had the same level of success as it does today.

soheil 10y ago

It's not black and white, good or bad, that's the OP's point, it depends. If your goal is to accumulate wealth perhaps LT did it wrong, if your goal is to build something great then you should perhaps choose his route. Those goals may intersect and that's great, but that's not a necessary condition.