Linus interviewed by CNN

[Zelmo]

Slashdot has a link to an interview with Linus on CNN International. It kind of shows the contrast between what long-time Linux users know about open-source (illustrated in Linus's comments) and what the general public sees (as shown in the interviewer's questions). It's also fun to see how well Linus has kept a sane perspective on everything.

Here's my choice quote from the interview (Linus speaking):

I often compare open source to science. To where science took this whole notion of developing ideas in the open and improving on other peoples' ideas and making it into what science is today, and the incredible advances that we have had. And I compare that to witchcraft and alchemy, where openness was something you didn't do. So openness is not something new, it is something that actually has worked for a long time.

[CodeRoot]

Quote from Linus:

At least from the developers' standpoint, nobody does it because they hate Microsoft. None of the people I work with do it for that reason. They do it because they love doing what they do.

(Emphasis mine.)

AMEN! -- and that is the way it should be!

[fingal]

An interesting article ... What I admire about Linus (and people like him) is that he's single-minded about something he enjoys doing. He's not chasing big money but he's pragmatic about his role in coordinating kernel development. It's great that he's managed to engage with so many people around the globe and get them interested in his brain child. Thanks for an interesting read!

He's level headed and sane ... I love to see that.

[bigtomrodney]

It would be easy to assume that someone in his position would be crazy, and completely one sided about all things open source and all things OS related. He really surprises you with how down to earth he is and the honest view of how things are, minus the usual hype. I found myself nodding when I was reading the article. And that's something I rarely find when reading say Richard Stallman. There's just a level of pragmatism there that you have to respect.

[cousinlucky]

It is just amazing to me that he is so humble, humane, and kind!! He is also a realist without an overbearing ego. I really enjoyed reading the article and I am even prouder now to be using his invention.

[fingal]

It is just amazing to me that he is so humble, humane, and kind!! He is also a realist without an overbearing ego. I really enjoyed reading the article and I am even prouder now to be using his invention.

That's what I like about him as well. I think it's part of the 'hacker ethic' whereby you're supposed to be talented, but in order to be accepted you have to play it down a lot. It's interesting that Linux hackers (builders rather than system crackers) start off their careers in an experimental way ... driven by curiosity; 'a hobby' I think Linus called it.

I read something in a Linux magazine not long ago which compared hackerism to the world of science: 'Scientists start off good and end up being original. Hackers start off original and end up being good.' I think that's an interesting point of view.