Torvalds on Linux and Microsoft

Sniper223 writes with a link to an interview on the Network World site with Linus Torvalds. Linus goes through the usual spiel about stuff like why he released the Linux OS in the first place, and how the future is open source. He also has some interesting commentary on the Microsoft/Novell deal: "I actually thought that whole discussion was interesting, not because of any Novell versus MS issues at all, but because all the people talking about them so clearly showed their own biases. The actual partnership itself seemed pretty much a nonissue to me, and not nearly as interesting as the reaction it got from people, and how it was reported ... I don't actually personally think the Novell-MS agreement kind of thing matters all that much in the end, but it's interesting to see the signs that the sides are at least talking to each other. I don't know what the end result will be, but I think it would be healthier for everybody if there wasn't the kind of rabid hatred on both sides. Some people get a bit too excited about MS, I think. I don't think they are that interesting." An interesting contrast to our earlier conversation.

Re:Not Again

[ScrewMaster]

There's a lot in common with Microsoft's upper management and the Scientology crowd. Both are very focused in what they do (mass walletectomies), and both are utterly ruthless when it comes to extinguishing opposition.

Re:I'm not a Linux fan, but...

[Cathbard]

BSD license is more liberal? Try so liberal that it is useless. RMS's GPL vision gives us protection against corporate parasites and without it FOSS would be nothing. Just look at the Dlink case if you don't understand the strength and advantages of the GPL.

Re:Exciting

[GPL Apostate]

Well, it should be a given for us to accept that Microsoft marketing types are gonna fein excitement about 'the product.'

Re:Linus released the 'Linux' OS?

[Eighty7]

The irony is it's your freedom at stake here with the GPLv3. RMS doesn't care much about credit. You're biting the hand that feeds you because it has a beard & is slightly overweight. It would be a joke of cosmic proportions if it weren't so tragic.

Re:Look it up

[Anarke_Incarnate]

Hurd is the kernel, GNU is the userspace.

Re:Now, now...

[MightyMartian]

Last time I checked, violating anti-trust laws is a criminal act. Last time I checked lying under oath is a criminal act. What's your definition of a "crime"?

Re:Look it up

[Anonymous Coward]

I think you missed the point.

Re:Linus released the 'Linux' OS?

[kestasjk]

Most people use userland libraries and don't interface directly with the kernel. glibc, GTK+, lib*, etc. GNU isn't "just" tar, grep, sed, etc (i.e. coreutils), it really does provide a large chunk of the system and I think anyone in a GNU dev's shoes would be a bit annoyed about the credit Linus gets. Also don't forget that Linux, and just about every FOSS app, is built using GCC.

To be honest I think it's just down to the naming, and not any misconceptions about importance or quibbles about the mission of free software. I've never heard anyone say GNU correctly in person (it's always G.N.U.), because it's such a terrible name and doesn't roll off the tongue like Linux. "Debian Sarge Guh-noo slash Linux", "Fedora Core Guh-noo slash Linux", "Damn Small Guh-noo slash Linux".
If they had put a few moments thought into the name, perhaps an acronym that describes what it is instead of what it isn't, and perhaps an acronym that can be pronounced. Off the top of my head perhaps Onix for open unix, or instead of the arbitrary 'G' in GNU they could have chosen a vowel; ANUs Not Unix, ENUs Not Unix, INUs Not Unix, ONUs Not Unix, UNUs Not Unix. "Freeax" was only marginally worse than "Guh-noo".

Re:Linus released the 'Linux' OS?

[jimicus]

You seem to be confused. Microsoft don't sell laptops. Your complaint is with the PC hardware vendors that won't sell you a laptop without Windows.

Are those the same PC hardware vendors which Microsoft has systematically browbeaten into offering Windows? The ones which (at least until recently) were almost to a man terrified of offering you something with any OS other than Windows lest some Terrible Beat of Redmond descent upon them?

Things are changing - Dell's recent foray into Linux systems demonstrates that - but to imagine that the Windows monopoly is entirely down to PC hardware vendors simultaneously, independently deciding to ship Windows and nothing else is pure folly.