this post was submitted on 21 Jun 2023
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Linux
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From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Linux is a family of open source Unix-like operating systems based on the Linux kernel, an operating system kernel first released on September 17, 1991 by Linus Torvalds. Linux is typically packaged in a Linux distribution (or distro for short).
Distributions include the Linux kernel and supporting system software and libraries, many of which are provided by the GNU Project. Many Linux distributions use the word "Linux" in their name, but the Free Software Foundation uses the name GNU/Linux to emphasize the importance of GNU software, causing some controversy.
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It's not like the foundation has any technical say in the kernel.
That's the funny part, they exist just for show.
Well the Foundation does employ Linus and Greg, so it's not just entirely for the show. They paychecks are real (I hope!)
Sorry for the ignorance, but who has the technical say then?
Linus Torvalds acts as dictator for life. The problem is, and this is what Vim is currently grappling with, what happens when your open source software project with a dictator for life nears end of life? One might assume the Linux foundation becomes the new governance structure. That certainly seems to be what some people think Microsoft is banking on.
Here's my prediction: three kernals will arise competing for who gets to be the continuation of Linux. One by the current Linux foundation, one by a current individual contributor to the kernal, and one by a new organization founded to be a grass roots development effort of Linux. Following this fracturing, another existing project will gain prominence as an alternative kernal. Maybe that's FreeBSD, maybe that's Redox, I don't know. The point is the fracturing of no one knowing what the canonical Linux kernel they should be contributing to will give another kernel an opportunity to gain new users and contributors. The most likely winners are whatever new continuation project I described are, or the alternative kernel that already exists
Thing is, there is a line of succession for Linux Kernel, Linus is more of a Q/A manager for determining whether to merge code or not, and they most likely never yield to Linux Foundation, because why the hell would they want to let some corpo suits tell them what to do especially if they don't have the technical literacy to do the job in the first place? If corpo try to meddle with the development process of Linux Kernel into something of a hostile environment, then developers of Linux would just fork off and spin off their own version right there and then.
Good to know!
Rings of trust, with torvalds at center.