> [quoting a web page]
>
> NT 5.0 is coming out pretty soon (it is in beta
> 2 now), and whatever we do, we do have to
> understand that NT 5.0 is a threat to Linux.
I disgaree. I think that NT is not, and has never been, a threat
to Linux. The latest NT abortion is no different.
Consider that when Linux was first publically released there was
no TCP/IP stack, no X server, most UNIX apps didn't port cleanly
and the number of developers could be counted on one hand.
Yet despite the primitive nature of this first Linux, despite it
being matched against much better competition at the time, Linux
managed to attract interest from developers and users alike.
Why?
Because it was, and still is, a free UNIX.
It is great that some people now think that Linux has progressed
so far that it can be compared with NT, but NT isn't an enemy or
a competitor. NT can't compete, because it isn't a free UNIX.
The fact that Linux *is* destroying NT is merely incidental, and
rather amusing. Free software and writing code is more important
important to some people than the latest whizbang features.
> Linux has come too far for all of us. If it's being
> bogged down by artificial bottleneck, the bottleneck
> must be removed. We can't afford to take our own
> sweet time in the development cycle any longer. We
> are in competition.
I think Linux could take as long as it likes, and still be quite
popular, even if only amongst developers. There is no race to be
won here. There's no deadline to be met.
Now, one of the things I *do* believe could destroy Linux, is if
non-developers make Linux development so unenjoyable that honest
to goodness Linux developers lose interest and leave.
Some easy ways to make development unenjoyable is to impose many
artificial deadlines, start making demands, or start to take the
developers for granted (ie abusing them).
Developers are your friends. Treat them as such. If you start to
treat them like slaves, robots or employees (all pretty much the
same thing) then you will simply drive them away.
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