The big guns of Linux kernel development
The Linux Foundation recently released an updated study of Linux development statistics that reveals interesting statistics relating to who actually writes the kernel that allows others to build on top.
More than 70 percent of total kernel contributions come from developers working at large companies including obvious participants like Red Hat, IBM, Novell, and Intel as well as other less obvious small companies such as Parallels.
- Red Hat: 12.3%
- IBM: 7.6%
- Novell: 7.6%
- Intel: 5.3%
- Independent consultant: 2.5%
- Oracle: 2.4%
- Linux Foundation: 1.6%
- SGI 1.6%
- Parallels 1.3%
- Renesas Technology: 1.3%
- Academia: 1.2%
- Fujitsu: 1.1%
- MontaVista: 1.1%
- MIPS Technologies: 1.1%
- Analog Devices: 1.0%
- HP: 1.0%
Another interesting fact is the rate of development and constant refactoring of the kernel code. An average of 10,923 lines of code are added with an average of 5,547 lines removed every day, ensuring that the code is high quality and relevant for the most important implementations of the kernel.
A sidebar to the initial data is the fact that much of the development is done by users who don't necessarily identify themselves as employees of specific organizations, even if they are. Running the numbers by code "signoff" reveals other intriguing statistics about who's contributing code:
- Red Hat 36.4%
- Google 10.5%
- Novell 8.2%
- None 6%
- Intel 6.4%
- IBM 5.3%
- Linutronix 2.8%
- Linux Foundation 2.7%
- Consultant 1.9%
- Hansen Partnership 1.6%
As the report notes, the Linux kernel remains one of the largest and most successful open-source projects, able to sustain both rapid growth and rapid change. And, importantly, the distributed development efforts mean that development can continue on even if certain companies opt out of future efforts.
Perhaps Linux is the only truly future proof technology?
Follow me on Twitter @daveofdoom.
Dave Rosenberg dishes up "Software, Interrupted" with nearly 15 years of technology and marketing experience that spans from Bell Labs to multiple start-up IPOs to open-source enterprise software companies. He is co-founder of MuleSource and currently serves as the general manager of Hardy Way. He is a member of the CNET Blog Network and is not an employee of CNET. Disclosure. You can contact Dave via e-mail at softwareinterrupted@gmail.com or follow him on Twitter @daveofdoom. 
1. which chipset vendors provide the best Linux drivers, for their products.
2. which PC & PC peripheral vendors provide the most Linux-friendly products.
This would be useful to consumers & businesses, when they need to make purchasing decisions.
- by maverick_nick August 23, 2009 11:22 AM PDT
- It's not necessarily the kernel that I have a problem with, but the untested OS releases based on Linux, like Ubuntu whom keep on breaking things after every release. Current best Linux based OS is Android. Forthcoming best Linux based OS is Chrome OS.
- Like this Reply to this comment
-
-
- by tipoo_ August 23, 2009 5:50 PM PDT
- Unless you work for Google, you have no way of knowing that...
- Like this
-
(3 Comments)