I think the stability of user space interfaces is simply good engineering. Linux can run binaries compiled way back in the 90s. Because of this discipline, people trust Linux as a platform. People generally have no problems updating their kernels and it's safe to assume there will be no problems. This isn't the case in user space: many projects have no problem with breaking compatibility and forcing dependent packages to be updated as well.
The author claims Linus Torvalds enforces Linux binary interface stability because the Linux foundation members that pay his salary want it. Is this really true? If that was the case, I'd expect the internal kernel interfaces to be stable as well. They are unstable and he actively fights to keep them unstable even though the companies would very much enjoy having stable driver interfaces.
> Stuff outside the kernel is almost always either (a) experimental stuff that just isn't ready to be merged or (b) tries to avoid the GPL.
> Neither is worth a _second_ of anybodys time trying to support, and when you say "people spend lots of money supporting you", you're lying through your teeth. The GPL-avoiding kind of people don't spend a dime supporting me, they spend their money actively trying to debase and destroy what I and thousands of others have been working our butts off for.
> So don't try to make it sound like something it isn't. We support outside projects a hell of a lot better than we'd need to, and I can tell you that it's mostly _me_ who does that. Most of the core kernel developers argue that I should support less of it - and yes, they are backed up by lawyers at their (sometimes quite big) companies.
The author claims Linus Torvalds enforces Linux binary interface stability because the Linux foundation members that pay his salary want it. Is this really true? If that was the case, I'd expect the internal kernel interfaces to be stable as well. They are unstable and he actively fights to keep them unstable even though the companies would very much enjoy having stable driver interfaces.
https://yarchive.net/comp/linux/gcc_vs_kernel_stability.html
> Stuff outside the kernel is almost always either (a) experimental stuff that just isn't ready to be merged or (b) tries to avoid the GPL.
> Neither is worth a _second_ of anybodys time trying to support, and when you say "people spend lots of money supporting you", you're lying through your teeth. The GPL-avoiding kind of people don't spend a dime supporting me, they spend their money actively trying to debase and destroy what I and thousands of others have been working our butts off for.
> So don't try to make it sound like something it isn't. We support outside projects a hell of a lot better than we'd need to, and I can tell you that it's mostly _me_ who does that. Most of the core kernel developers argue that I should support less of it - and yes, they are backed up by lawyers at their (sometimes quite big) companies.