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Linux: Introducing Bugs

Posted by Scott_Ruecker on · 2 comments
KernelTrap; By Jeremy Andrews 		Mail this story
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In another thread discussing the tracking of kernel regressions [story], Linux creator Linus Torvalds noted that the kernel is evolving so quickly it is inevitable that bugs will be introduced. He used a git query to determine that there are an average of over 65 patches being committed every single day, "that translates to five hundred commits a week, two _thousand_ commits per month, and 25 thousand commits per year. As a fairly constant stream. Will mistakes happen? Hell *yes*." He continued on to add, "and I'd argue that any flow that tries to 'guarantee' that mistakes don't happen is broken. It's a sure-fire way to just frustrate people, simply because it assumes a level of perfection in maintainers and developers that isn't possible

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Comments (2)

tuxchick ·
"the notion of having a process for _tracking_ all the information is actually totally counter-productive, if a big part of the process isn't also about throwing noise away.

"We don't want to "save" all the crud. I don't want "smart tracking" to keep track of everything. I want "smart forgetting", so that we are only left with the major signal - the stuff that matters"

Linus is fun. Even when I feel like slapping him he makes me think. (Same for RMS and ESR, except with ESR all I'm thinking is "I want to slap you.")

Ever since computers fell into the hands of ordinary mortals, humanity's packrat tendencies have been amplified beyond all reason. It's bad enough when people never throw away their old margarine tubs and bread wrappers and plastic TV trays. It's worse with computers because the techiness of it all confers a dignity and value to their junk that it doesn't deserve. Hurrah for bitrot- long may it fester!







jdixon ·
> ...except with ESR all I'm thinking is "I want to slap you.")

Why do I get an image of TC in a dominatrix outfit? :)

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