This is a most excellent place for technology news and articles.
Both Torvalds and Gates are nerds... Gates decided to monetize it and Torvalds decided to give it away.
But without Microsoft's "PC on every desktop" vision for the '90s, we may not have seen such an increased demand for server infrastructure which is all running the Linux kernel now.
Arguably Torvalds' strategy had a greater impact than Gates because now many of us carry his kernel in our pocket. But I think both needed each other to get where we are today.
I've said this before here, but techy people vastly overestimate both the ability and the patience of the typical user, and it's the reason so few people use FOSS products.
Products from big tech aimed at private individuals are designed to be as simple to use as possible, which is why they're so popular.
Nah, I have worked in IT education and in helpdesk. Average user doesn't have a better time getting into Microsoft products, it's not easier for them than FOSS. The reason for Windows domination is Microsoft spending money and lobbying power to put it in front of every user.
Big tech designing their products to be overly simple is one of the driving forces behind the average user having poor patience and aptitude for tech.
No, it's not. We have other shit to do and very limited quality time.
Do you hunt for all of your food and cook it from absolute scratch?
I bet you sometimes use a grocery store.
What about the boat loads of marketing - ads - aimed at making you believe those proprietary programs are the best? Clearly you fell for it.
But without Microsoft’s “PC on every desktop” vision for the '90s, we may not have seen such an increased demand for server infrastructure which is all running the Linux kernel now.
Debatable, in my opinion. There were lots of other companies trying to build personal computers back in those times (IBM being the most prominent). If Microsoft had never existed (or gone about things in a different way), things would have been different, no doubt, but they would still be very important and popular devices. The business-use aspect alone had a great draw and from there, I suspect that adoption at homes, schools, etc. would still follow in a very strong way.
Bill announces a collaboration between the two, starting with an open source implementation of BOB and Clippy AI for Linux....
Clippy!
Top comment on that page is perfect:
One wrote their own operating system incorporating others ideas on operating systems, the other's mom bought theirs.
Mommy was one of the higher ups at IBM. Gates got most of it just handed to him. They are not the same.
But but but... my parents stories about self-made, and cheapskate, and he's rich cause apparently he's not frivolous, and wears sweatpants, and other dumbass lies they ate up...
I know it's fun to bash on Gates, but it's also bullshit. Dave Cutler worked on at least two major operating systems. He's way up there in the Hall of Fame.
Torvalds wrote the kernel, not the operating system. It's a part of the GNU/Linux OS ;)
... or as I have taken recently to call it, GNU plus Linux.
Linus looks old now 😭
I guess that's how time works but still...
I said in another thread about this, he looks like an older Tom Scott.
No major kernel decisions were made,” jokes Russinovich in a post on LinkedIn.
Man, wouldn't that be wild, though?
Missing the opportunity for a legit decent LinkedIn post?
I dunno. Tempting…
Genuinely kind of surprised they only met now, one would have thought that in over 30 years they would have run into each other at some point at some conference or other.
I hate to sound preachy, but this is a good example of “rivals” peacefully meeting.
So many people I meet IRL seem conditioned to think this person they hate on the internet would be someone they’d shout at like they’re an axe murderer, in the middle of a murder. It’s the example they see. Death threats are, like, normal on Facebook or TV News or whatever they’re into, apparently.
Again at risk of reaching... this feels like positive masculinity to me.
And leaders acting like adults.
Too bad Steve Wozniak wasn't there too lol
Maybe I'm wrong, but isn't Gates retired? And I have no idea if Torvalds is still active.
But historical photo aside, isn't this meeting a bunch of nothing?
Torvalds is still very active on the Linux kernel. As far as I know, he's in charge of it and makes major decisions about its direction.
Bill Gates retired from Microsoft in 2008.
without checking, Gates’ wealth is probably tied up in a lot of MS stock, and he could probably walk into the office and ask the intern to get him a coffee. but yeah i think mostly retired.
Linus is still active is maintaining the Linux kernel.
and yes, this is fluff, not some kind of summit
Gates could probably walk into most offices and get a free coffee and an impromptu meeting with the CEO if he wants to.
Someone might remember Bill 300 years from now as a bump on the road for Linux.
it could be the year
......that Linus and Bill kiss? Will they or won't they?
Gay (kernel) panic
At the disco
