Comments on: Is Torvalds really the father of Linux?

It's hard to imagine that Linus Torvalds could have launched Linux without directly using earlier operating system work, according to a report that has become controversial even before its scheduled publication Thursday.

What a sensationalist

This is a totally non-issue: Ken Brown is biased, Linux kernel's source code has changed totally in the last decade no way any code from Minix (if there was ever any) would still be there, and getting ideas from others is not a crime.

I found it hard to believe that this sensationalist still managed to made his way to various mass media.

Hah! Don't be!

Don't be astonished sensationalists make it to mainstream media! Sensational is the name of the game... If news would not be "sensational" or "unbelievable" audience data would drop dead!
So... here it is! Your average, every day, half-baked no good invention good to boost "clicks" (just look at how many posts this single thread has!).
As out of order as it may seem let me just add this: Linux is far better! I have been using MS-OS(MSDOS 3.3, 4.01, 6.22, Win. 3.0, 3.1,3.11, Win95, Win98,98SE, 98Me, 2000, XP) for the past 13-14 years. I was totally anti-Linux, until, less than a month ago I started installing Red Hat. On my own! From the scratch! Without knowing anything about it! Now, my opinion is that LINUX TOTALLY KICKS ASSS!!!! Even its eye candy is better that windows! Asked for no drivers disk, no nothing! And was over and done with in less than 15 minutes! No Internet connection configuration needed, no NIC CD, no video CD, no MB CD, no... Wow! I'm all for it!
Go LINUX!!!!!!!!!!!!
As to computer speed... looks as if I would've bought me a new machine altogether!!!!

"linux is obsolete"

There is a famous newsgroup thread where Tanenbaum mentions why "linux us obsolete" and gives a point by point discussion on how linux and minix are different. A copy of this thread is here http://security.royans.net/info/posts/linux_is_obsolete.shtml

There are many books on how to write optimized code out there... which are used to teach people how to write optimized code. The authors of those books are paid for the books, and the students learn new tips and tricks... and as long as the content of the book is used for research and not copied to be published elsewhere illegally, its considered ok.

[mint]

that was year 1992, not 2004

Have you really 'read' the article? or even understand what did it say?

Linux was monolitic when it first came out but it was changed to microkernel for several versions.

translation: they updated the technology long time ago.

[deltatux]

LINUX IS NOT OBSOLETE!

Linux will never be obsolete. The Linux community updates every few months compare to Windows. In matter of fact the next Windows is comming in 2006.

http://security.royans.net/info/posts/linux_is_obsolete.shtml

http://security.royans.net/info/posts/linux_is_obsolete.shtml

[unknown unknown]

More FUD

These are the same people who tried to blame the IT sector's problems on open source and tried to say that open source helps terrorists. I hope these guys get hit with libel suit.

Tanenbaum himself clarifies this news

http://www.cs.vu.nl/~ast/brown/
Tanenbaum sets the record perfectly straight here.

Thank you!

Thank you for posting that clarifying link!

[VodooMagik]

This is not correct

i got hold of some intresting fact
read this
http://www.cs.vu.nl/~ast/brown/

[VodooMagik]

poor PR

i think its a PR stunt my microsoft to discredit linux and its origin just cause microsoft its self cannot create something which is not full of bugs its tryin to discredit linux.
That microsoft for you

Overnight? It took 14 years...

This articale is absurd.

The first versions of Linus's Unix couldent do much more then write text files. It took 14 years of code writen by Linus and a massive army of Open Source hackers to make it into what we see today.

The question is not "Who wrote Linux?" its "Shouldent a think tank have better things to think about?" - ...Really besides trying to dammage Linux what possable motives could they have for even concitering this research project?

Sounds like Microsoft has written a book

This is actually the most rediculous report I have ever heard. The Linux O.S. was almost useless in the first few years. Sounds like Microsoft is running scared. As well they should, charging more money for a product with a 400% markup. Give me a break!!!!!!

[tuqui]

No they only finance it

Brown's ADTI receive money from Microsoft. To do "unbiases" reports!?.

Poor excuse for a troll

What I have seen of this since the press release came out a couple of days ago, the accusations show a pretty poor understanding of the history of Unix, Linux, and computing history in general. The author doesn't seem to undestand what an O.S. is, what place the Linux kernel takes in the distros, the role that the GNU tools have in the story, what it means to work with a spec... the list goes on and on. The whole thing looks like a half-baked, unknowledgable attack that Steve Balmer would make on CNN to non-technical people that wouldn't know better. Using the word "intvented" doesn't help credibility either.

Shame on CNet for even taking this guy seriously. You have now created a story where there was none and I am sure there will be plenty of FUDittes that jump on it.