this post was submitted on 09 Dec 2023
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Linux is a family of open source Unix-like operating systems based on the Linux kernel, an operating system kernel first released on September 17, 1991 by Linus Torvalds. Linux is typically packaged in a Linux distribution (or distro for short).

Distributions include the Linux kernel and supporting system software and libraries, many of which are provided by the GNU Project. Many Linux distributions use the word "Linux" in their name, but the Free Software Foundation uses the name GNU/Linux to emphasize the importance of GNU software, causing some controversy.

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Linus Torvalds on the state of Linux today and how AI figures in its future (www.zdnet.com)
submitted 11 months ago by pnutzh4x0r@lemmy.ndlug.org to c/linux@lemmy.ml
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At Open Source Summit Japan, Linux and Git creator Linus Torvalds talked about Rust in Linux, Linux maintainer fatigue, and AI's future role in Linux and open-source development.

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[–] wiki_me@lemmy.ml 17 points 11 months ago (2 children)

That said, Torvalds continued, "Rust has not really shown itself as the next great big thing. But I think during next year, we'll actually be starting to integrate drivers and some even major subsystems that are starting to use it actively. So it's one of those things that is going to take years before it's a big part of the kernel. But it's certainly shaping up to be one of those."

I don't know about that, languages which are based on standards (c++ , javascript, c) seem to have much better enduring popularity, i don't want to see rust becoming less and less popular which will lead to less available developers (like what is happening with ruby).

[–] TheFriendlyArtificer 4 points 11 months ago (1 children)

Speaking as a non Rustacean, I'm pretty okay with it becoming more integrated.

It's safe, performant, and isn't any more difficult to pick up than C++. C has a weird aura about it that makes it seem intimidating despite the fact that it is the simplest language (macros notwithstanding) that I've ever used.

Based on Google's recent track record of mind-boggling incompetence on all fronts, I want Go kept as far away from core functionality as humanly possible. This leaves either adding more cruft to an already ungainly C++, continuing to use Boost (another Google product) with C, or to pivot to a more modern language.

[–] caseyweederman@lemmy.ca 3 points 11 months ago (1 children)

Agreed re: Google.
I dunno what the solution is. The world without Google is going to be a very different place. Do you think it's even possible for them to turn things around?

[–] TheFriendlyArtificer 2 points 11 months ago (1 children)

I think it would take a pretty major sea change for them. They technically split up into Alphabet, but I don't know of a single person that actually uses that when describing them.

Even if they did change things around, and I would wager that the entrenched bureaucracy will make that impossible, their name is toxic to a lot of tech nerds. We may be a minority, but we talk and people listen. Even the non techies in my life know that they can't maintain a simple messaging app, responded to (rightful!) concerns about data loss by locking the support threads, and has jacked up the price of YouTube on a yearly basis.

They've spectacularly failed at video game consoles, social media, banking/credit cards, IOT, messaging, video, and can't even maintain a semblance of consistency in their office suite. At work I have three different ways to receive instant messages, and it's a crapshoot as to which one a coworker will use.

And let's not even get into how absolutely useless their search is now that everything has been gamed by SEO. Duckduckgo has been my default for years, but now it's consistently returning better results than big G.

If they managed to correct course tomorrow, it would take multiple years for me to even begin to trust them again.

[–] caseyweederman@lemmy.ca 1 points 11 months ago

Yeah. Extremely unlikely and probably impossible.
It's incredible how very much they have been able to fail but still continue operating.

[–] java 2 points 11 months ago* (last edited 11 months ago)

We don't know what will happen in the future. But just above the quote that you brought he explains that Rust is actually bringing new developers.

Hohndel commented that the aging of the kernel community is a "double-edged sword." Torvalds agreed, but he noted that "one of the things I liked about the Rust side of the kernel, was that there was one maintainer who was clearly much younger than most of the maintainers. We can clearly see that certain areas in the kernel bring in more young people." For example, on the driver side, you'll have a much easier time finding younger people, and that is traditionally how we've grown a lot of maintainers, including Greg [Korah-Hartman, the Linux stable kernel maintainer].

Hohndel and Torvalds also talked about the use of the Rust language in the Linux kernel. Torvalds said, "It's been growing, but we don't have any part of the kernel that really depends on Rust yet. To me, Rust was one of those things that made technical sense, but to me personally, even more important was that we need to not stagnate as a kernel and as developers."

It will take a lot of time for Rust to play a key role. And it won't happen without enough Rust developers joining the project in the upcoming years. That itself could motivate more people to learn it, producing self-reinforcing feedback.