Re: Linux?s Remarkable Journey From One Dev's Hobby To 40 Million Lines Of Code - And Counting

Lawrence D'Oliveiro <ldo@nz.invalid> wrote:

A retrospective
<https://www.zdnet.com/article/linuxs-remarkable-journey-from-one-devs-hobby-to-40-million-lines-of-code-and-counting/>
on how the Linux kernel project got to where it is today. Quotes:

<snip>

Corbet believed that what has set Linux apart is its radical
openness.

At the time, I would say thus is true, but now it is a different
story :)  Interesting there is no mention of the BSD/AT&T
lawsuit around 1992.  That slowed down *BSD growth at a critical
time period.  Even Linus mentioned this as a reason for starting
Linux.

Of course, for years, no one took Linux seriously. It was
dismissed as a toy in an era when Unix fragmentation and the
rise of Windows NT dominated industry thinking.

No mention of the 1 Billion USD investment IBM made in Linux
in 1999/2000, that allowed many people to get paid for their
work.  *BSD had and still has nothing close to this.

Linux was also successful, Corbet believes, because "Linus
had no pride. He threw open the door to everybody, and anybody
who could send him a patch could participate.

Something to say about this, *BSDs at the time was known for
their infighting and was less welcoming (IIRC).  Now of course
I think it is the opposite.  I think *BSD are very welcoming
to contributors.

--
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