Linus Torvalds and Linux Code of Conduct: 7 myths debunked

https://www.zdnet.com/article/linus-torvalds-and-linux-code-of-conduct-myths/
Since Linus Torvalds announced he was taking time off to work on his behaviorin the Linux developer community and a new Linux kernel developer Code of Conduct (CoC) was introduced, there has been hysterical myths regarding what’s happening.
No, protesting programmers are not removing code from Linux; there are no purges of politically incorrect Linux kernel developers. And Linus Torvalds is coming back.

19 Comments

  1. Tomi Engdahl says:

    Linus Torvalds: ‘I’ll never be cuddly but I can be more polite’
    https://www.bbc.com/news/technology-45664640

    Linux founder Linus Torvalds has told the BBC that he is seeking professional help to become more empathetic towards fellow developers, but admits he may have to “fake it until I make it”.

    Reply
  2. Tomi Engdahl says:

    Can You “Take Back” Open Source Code?
    https://hackaday.com/2018/09/27/can-you-take-back-open-source-code/

    It seems a simple enough concept for anyone who’s spent some time hacking on open source code: once you release something as open source, it’s open for good. Sure the developer might decide that future versions of the project close up the source, it’s been known to happen occasionally, but what’s already out there publicly can never be recalled. The Internet doesn’t have a “Delete” button, and once you’ve published your source code and let potentially millions of people download it, there’s no putting the Genie back in the bottle.

    But what happens if there are extenuating circumstances? What if the project turns into something you no longer want to be a part of?

    Due to what some perceive as a forced change in the Linux Code of Conduct, these are the questions being asked by some of the developers of the world’s preeminent open source project.

    Is it truly possible to “take back” source code submitted to a project that’s released under a free and open source license such as the GPL? If so, what are the ramifications? What happens if it’s determined that the literally billions of devices running the Linux kernel are doing so in violation of a single developer’s copyright? These questions are of grave importance to the Internet and arguably our way of life. But the answers aren’t as easy to come by as you might think.

    Copyleft and Ownership

    The GPL is what’s known as a copyleft license, which is designed to add additional rights for the end users which would otherwise be limited by copyright laws. For example, it gives the user the right to duplicate and create derivative works. But an important distinction is that copyleft licences such as the GPL don’t actually replace the original copyright, they are merely supplemental. The original author of the code still holds the copyright, and is ultimately its sole owner.

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  3. Tomi Engdahl says:

    Seem like Linux kernel community wants to drop controversial wording from original CoC to solve ALL problems. Linux Code of Conduct: Fix some wording, and add an interpretation document http://lkml.iu.edu/hypermail/linux/kernel/1810.2/04797.html What do you think?

    Reply
  4. Tomi Engdahl says:

    Steven J. Vaughan-Nichols / ZDNet:
    Linus Torvalds back in charge of Linux, according to the Linux 4.19 announcement, over a month after temporarily stepping away to get help to fix his behavior — After a few weeks off to reconsider his role in the Linux community, Linus Torvalds is back in the saddle.

    Linus Torvalds is back in charge of Linux
    https://www.zdnet.com/article/linus-torvalds-is-back-in-charge-of-linux/

    After a few weeks off to reconsider his role in the Linux community, Linus Torvalds is back in the saddle.

    At Open Source Summit Europe in Scotland, Linus Torvalds is meeting with Linux’s top 40 or so developers at the Maintainers’ Summit. This is his first step back in taking over Linux’s reins.

    A little over a month ago, Torvalds stepped back from running the Linux development community. In a note to the Linux Kernel Mailing List (LKML), Torvalds said, “I need to change some of my behavior, and I want to apologize to the people that my personal behavior hurt and possibly drove away from kernel development entirely. I am going to take time off and get some assistance on how to understand people’s emotions and respond appropriately.”

    That time is over. Torvalds is back.

    Whether he’ll be a kinder and gentler Torvalds remains to be seen.

    In the Linux 4.19 announcement, Greg Kroah-Hartman, Linux’s temporary leader and maintainer of the stable branch, wrote: “Linus, I’m handing the kernel tree back to you. You can have the joy of dealing with the merge window :)”

    Reply
  5. Tomi Engdahl says:

    Revised Linux Code of Conduct is now officially part of Linux
    https://www.zdnet.com/article/revised-linux-code-of-conduct-is-now-officially-part-of-linux/

    With the release of the Linux kernel 4.19 came not just new features and bug fixes, but the new Linux Code of Conduct as well.

    Reply
  6. Tomi Engdahl says:

    Linus Torvalds returns to head Linux coding community
    https://www.bbc.com/news/technology-45953233

    Reply
  7. Tomi Engdahl says:

    Richard Stallman suggests GNU Kind as Code of Conduct alternative
    https://www.neowin.net/news/richard-stallman-suggests-gnu-kind-as-code-of-conduct-alternative

    In September, elements of the Linux kernel community managed to introduce a Code of Conduct into the project and the new document was formally adopted with the release of Linux 4.19 which occurred today. The text attracted criticism from some quarters and praise from others, now Richard Stallman has put forward the GNU Kind Communication Guidelines for the GNU Project after he announced he didn’t like aspects of a code of conduct proposal.

    Writing in the announcement on the GNU mailing list, Stallman said that some maintainers had suggested a code of conduct which would introduce strict rules. Stallman wrote that he “did not like the punitive spirit of that approach, and decided against it.” Other GNU package maintainers said that they would quit from their positions immediately if a code of conduct was enacted.

    Reply
  8. Tomi Engdahl says:

    Torvalds ehtii julkistamaan Linux 5:n
    http://www.etn.fi/index.php/13-news/8606-torvalds-ehtii-julkistamaan-linux-5-n

    Torvaldsia tuurannus Greg Kroah-Hartman kertoi maanantaina, että Linuxin 4.19-version saa julkistaa Torvalds itse.

    Tällä hetkellä molemmat ovat Edinburghissa Linux-kehittäjien Open Source Summit Europe -konferenssissa. 4.19-kernelin viimeisessä korjauslistassa on normaaleja arkkitehtuuri- ja verkkokorjauksia. Ja tärkeänä lisänä uusi käytöskoodisto, joka lisätään osaksi tulevaa 4.19-ydintä.

    CoC-sääntöjen (Code of Conduct) myötä Linux-kehitys siirtyy tavallaan uuteen aikakauteen. Ehkäpä Torvalds käyttää tilaisuutta samalla hyväkseen ja nimeää uuden ytimen suoraan Linux 5.0:ksi. Aiemmin hän on sanonut, että versionumero on vain numero eikä sillä sen suurempaa merkitystä ole.

    Reply
  9. Tomi Engdahl says:

    ​Revised Linux Code of Conduct is now officially part of Linux
    https://www.zdnet.com/article/revised-linux-code-of-conduct-is-now-officially-part-of-linux/

    With the release of the Linux kernel 4.19 came not just new features and bug fixes, but the new Linux Code of Conduct as well.

    Reply
  10. Tomi Engdahl says:

    Linux developers threaten to pull “kill switch”
    https://lulz.com/linux-devs-threaten-killswitch-coc-controversy-1252/

    UPDATE: ESR: “threat has teeth.” Most of the internet could be affected as some Linux devs threaten to rescind code in response to CoC controversy.

    Reply
  11. Tomi Engdahl says:

    Linux Has a Code of Conduct and Not Everyone is Happy With it
    https://itsfoss.com/linux-code-of-conduct/

    Reply
  12. Tomi Engdahl says:

    This had effect on CoC

    The Post-Meritocracy Manifesto
    https://postmeritocracy.org

    Reply
  13. Tomi Engdahl says:

    Is open source wealth distribution fair?
    https://opensource.com/article/18/12/wealth-open-source-distributed?sc_cid=7016000000127ECAAY

    These concrete value propositions can convince companies to pay open source maintainers.

    If wealth is the abundance of valuable possessions, open source has a wealth of software. While no one “owns” open source, some are better than others at converting this communal wealth to personal wealth.

    Many open source project maintainers who produce free open source software do not have a model for deriving income from the assets they have created. However, companies that use open source software to enhance their products and services convert this valuable asset into income.

    Reply
  14. Tomi Engdahl says:

    Linus Torvalds: ‘I’m not a programmer anymore’
    https://www.zdnet.com/article/linus-torvalds-im-not-a-programmer-anymore/

    In a discussion about Linux and programming, Linux’s founder, Linus Torvalds talks about what he does today and his own doubts about his work.

    Reply

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