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Linux will be the ultimate test for this. Linus will eventually retire or die. The individual that takes it from there sets the future for all open source. I ca

by 1970-01-01 1y ago

Linux will be the ultimate test for this. Linus will eventually retire or die. The individual that takes it from there sets the future for all open source. I cannot imagine open source existing if the kernel maintenance is squandered.

Matumio 1y ago
Disagree, Linux is too big to fail. Too many people depend on it. It may get chaotic, but worst-case distributions will start collecting patches, as they already do for many unmaintained projects. Eventually one or two of them will emerge as the new upstream.
- purple_turtle 1y ago
  I guess the worst case is that future Linux will end entirely controlled by Google/Facebook/, Microsoft.
  - tracker1 1y ago
    While I dislike a lot of what comes out of the FAANG companies, even if the names change over time... I generally feel if most of them can agree on something, it's probably an okay direction. That's generally how politics works, where you find the common ground is generally the better option for everyone.
zamadatix 1y ago
If it doesn't go to Greg Kroah-Hartman and continue much the same I'll eat my shoe.
- layer8 1y ago
  Greg is older than Linus.
ema 1y ago
There has been open source before Linux and there will be open source after Linux. Yes Linux is a flagship project but the whole culture of open source is much broader than it.
officeplant 1y ago
As soon as they opened up the possibility for AI code in the kernel the writing was already on the wall. See ya'll in BSD land.
smsm42 1y ago
Linus should take a lesson from history and appoint the successor in advance, and publicly groom that person for the role, so nobody would have any doubts.
szszrk 1y ago
He doesn't seem to be as afraid of that as OP. https://itwire.com/business-it-news/open-source/torvalds-says-no-need-to-name-successor-as-that-will-happen-on-its-own.html https://itwire.com/business-it-news/open-source/torvalds-say...

Matumio 1y ago

Disagree, Linux is too big to fail. Too many people depend on it. It may get chaotic, but worst-case distributions will start collecting patches, as they already do for many unmaintained projects. Eventually one or two of them will emerge as the new upstream.

purple_turtle 1y ago
I guess the worst case is that future Linux will end entirely controlled by Google/Facebook/, Microsoft.
- tracker1 1y ago
  While I dislike a lot of what comes out of the FAANG companies, even if the names change over time... I generally feel if most of them can agree on something, it's probably an okay direction. That's generally how politics works, where you find the common ground is generally the better option for everyone.

zamadatix 1y ago

If it doesn't go to Greg Kroah-Hartman and continue much the same I'll eat my shoe.

layer8 1y ago
Greg is older than Linus.

ema 1y ago

There has been open source before Linux and there will be open source after Linux. Yes Linux is a flagship project but the whole culture of open source is much broader than it.

officeplant 1y ago

As soon as they opened up the possibility for AI code in the kernel the writing was already on the wall. See ya'll in BSD land.

smsm42 1y ago

Linus should take a lesson from history and appoint the successor in advance, and publicly groom that person for the role, so nobody would have any doubts.

szszrk 1y ago

He doesn't seem to be as afraid of that as OP. https://itwire.com/business-it-news/open-source/torvalds-says-no-need-to-name-successor-as-that-will-happen-on-its-own.html https://itwire.com/business-it-news/open-source/torvalds-say...