Messages in this thread | | | Date | Thu, 25 Feb 1999 13:12:48 -0800 (PST) | From | "Robert G. Werner" <> | Subject | Re: People need to say "no" |
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On Thu, 25 Feb 1999, Larry McVoy wrote:
> : That said, I think you are over estimating our (the Linux community) place in > : the development of Linux. Linus gets to decide. > > That's not the point at all. The point is whether we are learning > anything or are we just counting on Linus to catch every bad idea we > want to put into the kernel. We should be working smarter every day, > not just working and hoping it is right. That means we should understand > /why/ Linus says yes to some things and no to others. > [snip] It was my point because the kernel will always look the way Linus (or whoever follows him) wants it to because they are the one who ultimately takes the blame and the glory for it. This isn't something we do to Linus, it is the position he has placed himself in by the decisions of what kinds of controle he was willing to ceede and what kinds he wasn't. Ultimately, I can't believe that Linus doesn't tend to ignore patches that "feel" wrong unless they are pretty compelling and glom onto patches that are "right on". If he is spending all his time being gatekeeper and not enjoying that then Linus needs to find a way to change the model of control he is comfortable with. But that is up to him and not something we can or should try to dictate to him (not that I think you were ;-). I say all of this to disagree that we should self censor and try to guess what Linus will say yes too and not discuss or propose things we aren't sure he will put into the kernel. Linus is finite, as you say. He may not have the vision to see how a perticular idea in its infancy would fit. But he seems to be willing to let ideas percolate untill it is clear whether they are compatable with his vision of Linux. I feel, that to keep this model working, to exploit the strenghth of open development, we need to have as open and including a discussion as possible. Try anything that is reasonable. This calls for some self censorship (don't propose a feature that Linus has said will never go into Linux). But it seems to me that people must also have a chance to come up with interesting ideas and have them explored on their merrits and not on some individuals opinions as to their suitability. I guess my point is/was that while all of us may have opinions as to what is bloat and what is a fundamentally important and exciting development, the only opinion that really matters is that of Linus Torvalds because Linux has his name on it. If we try to second guess him to "help" him, we may be driving out interesting and important ideas that Linus himself was interested in.
Anyway, you argue forcefully and convicingly for more intelegent development and I would never want to argue agains that ;-). Sorry if this is slipping off topic. I hope I have been clear and maybe my words have shed some light on my opinions.
Robert G. Werner rwerner@lx1.microbsys.com Impeach Conggress!!
If the girl you love moves in with another guy once, it's more than enough. Twice, it's much too much. Three times, it's the story of your life.
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