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I sometimes wonder: what will happen to Linux when there is no Linus Torvalds as a lead architect anymore? I just have an outsider perspective, but it seems th

by fh973 9y ago

I sometimes wonder: what will happen to Linux when there is no Linus Torvalds as a lead architect anymore? I just have an outsider perspective, but it seems that he still has to intervene every now and then to maintain a coherent architecture. Could anyone else fill this role, ie. be willing, able and empowered?

qznc 9y ago
I believe the general philosophy (never break user space) is deeply ingrained into all long term kernel devs. There is a possibility that Linux splits into multiple variants (server, supercomputer, desktop, embedded, ...), but as long as the licences are compatible I see no problem.
- digi_owl 9y ago
  Hardly. Just the other day there was a spat between a security guy and Torvalds, where the security guy wanted to push a patch set that would crash even the kernel if something in userspace made it do something "funny". And said security guy have a whole bunch of cheerleaders in userspace (quite a few stepped onto social media to defend the patch set and berate Torvalds for being a potty mouthed bully), and perhaps even a few in kernel space.
- gnufx 9y ago
  I've seen enough break in user space in an HPC context. Note that HPC communication needs to happen there.
PleaseHelpMe 9y ago
Here is an interesting article : http://www.theregister.co.uk/2015/06/17/now_i_can_die_happy_what_linus_didnt_iquitei_say/ http://www.theregister.co.uk/2015/06/17/now_i_can_die_happy_...
craigsmansion 9y ago
Nothing much would happen, really. As portrayed by tech-media Linus is the main man behind Linux, but for anyone who would even casually follow the LKML, "Linux" is merely Linus' Linux. If Linus were to cease development, distributions would probably gravitate towards another Linux tree. There is no shortage of trees maintained by very qualified long-term developers who are trusted to keep everything in working order. They're just not as much in the general spotlight as Linus. Even if different distributors would lean towards different trees, features and patches would be equalised by third parties and another main tree would establish itself as "Linux."

by fh973 9y ago

qznc 9y ago

I believe the general philosophy (never break user space) is deeply ingrained into all long term kernel devs. There is a possibility that Linux splits into multiple variants (server, supercomputer, desktop, embedded, ...), but as long as the licences are compatible I see no problem.

digi_owl 9y ago
Hardly. Just the other day there was a spat between a security guy and Torvalds, where the security guy wanted to push a patch set that would crash even the kernel if something in userspace made it do something "funny". And said security guy have a whole bunch of cheerleaders in userspace (quite a few stepped onto social media to defend the patch set and berate Torvalds for being a potty mouthed bully), and perhaps even a few in kernel space.
gnufx 9y ago
I've seen enough break in user space in an HPC context. Note that HPC communication needs to happen there.

PleaseHelpMe 9y ago

Here is an interesting article : http://www.theregister.co.uk/2015/06/17/now_i_can_die_happy_what_linus_didnt_iquitei_say/ http://www.theregister.co.uk/2015/06/17/now_i_can_die_happy_...

craigsmansion 9y ago

Nothing much would happen, really. As portrayed by tech-media Linus is the main man behind Linux, but for anyone who would even casually follow the LKML, "Linux" is merely Linus' Linux. If Linus were to cease development, distributions would probably gravitate towards another Linux tree. There is no shortage of trees maintained by very qualified long-term developers who are trusted to keep everything in working order. They're just not as much in the general spotlight as Linus. Even if different distributors would lean towards different trees, features and patches would be equalised by third parties and another main tree would establish itself as "Linux."