[AUUG-Talk]: Good examples of highly-productive coders...

[Arjen Lentz]

Hi Steve,

On 03/10/2007, at 4:18 PM, steve jenkin wrote:
> You'll notice I didn't include RMS on the list.
> I've been reflecting on GNU & RMS [especially his bagging of Linus
> recently over "Open" vs "Free"]

His personality is not an input parameter of your metrics, is it? ;-)
Linus himself has behaved like an ass at various occasions too, but I  
don't think that disqualifies any of his other accomplishments.
Nobody is perfect, and I reckon that this type of person combined  
with their high profile nearly inevitably makes for extremes.


> and realised there is a huge gap between the public perception of  
> RMS &
> his "legendary" coding powers and the reality.
>
> Thompson & Linus both created new kernels from scratch in around 12  
> months.
> RMS has been going on Hurd for approaching 20 years... [really!]

So RMS is not a kernel magician.

 From what I know though, he has been quite active doing his part in  
coding the GNU tool chain, such as the many two-letter unix-ish  
commands that you use daily, and of course apps like Emacs.
A kernel is just a kernel, it does need other stuff on top. GNU  
provided Linus with everything else he needed on top of his kernel,  
and I do think we need to give RMS & co credit for that, even if he's  
an "excentric personality".

Every time you run 'ls' on a Linux box, you are using some RMS code.
You don't have to like the guy, and you get the stuff "free" anyway.


Regards,
Arjen.--
Arjen Lentz, Owner @ Open Query (http://openquery.com.au/)
Based in Brisbane, Australia - ph. +61-7-3103 0809
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