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This is very interesting. The problem, of course, is that a single person can't get as much done as a team. At a certain point, many projects need to have mor

This is very interesting. The problem, of course, is that a single person can't get as much done as a team. At a certain point, many projects need to have more developers involved. What do you think it was that made the Linux Kernel different? I assume there are leaders and social whatevers going on there.

bryanlarsen 15y ago
In general terms, the key difference between a 'nice' group and a 'mean' group is the degree to whether the hierarchy in the group is obviously correct. In the linux kernel, there is a clear hierarchy that is pretty close to being obviously correct. Linux obviously deserves to be the leader, and position/status is very clearly linked to a persons contributions to the greater good of the project. On single person projects, the hierarchy is also trivially clear, obvious, correct and unassailable. Many group projects fail the "clear hierarchy" test, often because they try to eliminate the hierarchy for some sort of ideals. But humans being human there is always some sort of hierarchy, so establishment of the hierarchy is informal and ongoing. Of course, "informal and ongoing" is a lot better than 'wrong' which is the case with many clear hierarchies. This is why the idealism vis a vis trying to prevent hierarchies exists in the first place. The obvious correctness of the hierarchy is one huge advantage small companies have over large companies and non-profits.
huhtenberg 15y ago
I'd say that the LK project has - (a) A formalized well-functioning hierarchy. There are people responsible for each part of the project - networking, vm, file systems, etc. (b) Highly skilled C developers. The language appear to have a big influence on how one carries himself in the community. C++ devs tend to be opinionated know-it-alls, Java devs - the same way but friendlier if a bit more condescending, etc. The C crowd is the humbliest by far and this makes the most pleasant to be in, so from this follows... (c) An established culture of mutual respect between the peers. If someone says something dumb, there's always a chance that it is not and you are simply not getting it. As with any community it could've gone in any direction, but in the end it all comes down to the leader. Linus is a witty opinionated, but inherently friendly and polite person, and so is the community in general.

bryanlarsen 15y ago

In general terms, the key difference between a 'nice' group and a 'mean' group is the degree to whether the hierarchy in the group is obviously correct. In the linux kernel, there is a clear hierarchy that is pretty close to being obviously correct. Linux obviously deserves to be the leader, and position/status is very clearly linked to a persons contributions to the greater good of the project. On single person projects, the hierarchy is also trivially clear, obvious, correct and unassailable. Many group projects fail the "clear hierarchy" test, often because they try to eliminate the hierarchy for some sort of ideals. But humans being human there is always some sort of hierarchy, so establishment of the hierarchy is informal and ongoing. Of course, "informal and ongoing" is a lot better than 'wrong' which is the case with many clear hierarchies. This is why the idealism vis a vis trying to prevent hierarchies exists in the first place. The obvious correctness of the hierarchy is one huge advantage small companies have over large companies and non-profits.

huhtenberg 15y ago

I'd say that the LK project has - (a) A formalized well-functioning hierarchy. There are people responsible for each part of the project - networking, vm, file systems, etc. (b) Highly skilled C developers. The language appear to have a big influence on how one carries himself in the community. C++ devs tend to be opinionated know-it-alls, Java devs - the same way but friendlier if a bit more condescending, etc. The C crowd is the humbliest by far and this makes the most pleasant to be in, so from this follows... (c) An established culture of mutual respect between the peers. If someone says something dumb, there's always a chance that it is not and you are simply not getting it. As with any community it could've gone in any direction, but in the end it all comes down to the leader. Linus is a witty opinionated, but inherently friendly and polite person, and so is the community in general.