The Linux Extremist

In recent days, I’ve discovered that many Linux users are operating under two false assumptions. The first false assumption is common among newbies; they think that by switching from Windows to Linux, they’re merely trading one operating system for another, and apart from improved speed, reliability and security, the two are roughly comparable. The second assumption is more typical of Linux experts; it’s the notion that Linux belongs to us hip, cool swinging experts, so noobs, shut up.

Both of these assumptions are missing a critical point about Linux. The first assumption is wrong because no, Linux is not like any other operating system; it has an educational approach at its heart and kids, you’re going back to school. The second assumption is just as wrong because the Linux Ethos demands a co-operative, collaborative approach to computing which obliges participation in the educational process, not acting like the “cool” high school seniors who smoke cigarettes in the parking lot.

It’s a truism that’s often stated, but when people first start learning about Linux, they begin to change their relationship with their computer. It changes from being a dull box from Dell to being a bunch of components, which need to be optimised in order for the sum to be greater than the whole. A greater ability to customise and control one’s machine, grants power and responsibility; it’s not like Windows where everything is done for the user and the user only has Microsoft to blame when it blows up. If you screw up, and believe me I’ve done so, it’s going to be up to you to sort it, kid. The end result is, yes, more tinkering, but also a system which is more suited to what the user wants to do.

It’s an educational process; in my case, I have been in technology for 23 years (my father brought home my first computer when I was 10); however I regard the experiences I’ve had with Linux as being the most interesting and informative lessons in computing I’ve ever had. Other users have reported the same.

As education is part of using Linux, and given the absence of formal technical support (unless you want to pay through the nose), then it becomes the obligation of the existing Linux community to maintain a helpful attitude, and to document their experiences in order to help those who are still learning. It’s a small price to pay for getting all of one’s software for free. Those smoking cool kids who insist that Linux should belong to experts and no one else are impeding growth and progress.

It is also the obligation of the community to assist the educational process in other ways; for example, if you find a bug, report it. This is not like Microsoft where a bug will blithely be dismissed as a design feature. Reading, testing, sharing, reporting - these are all actions which the Linux Ethos demands.

It is fair to say that this Ethos was established when Linus Torvalds first released his operating system. Those who are unfamiliar about the “Post that Got Linux Rolling”, here is what he said -

From: torvalds@klaava.Helsinki.FI (Linus Benedict Torvalds)
Newsgroups: comp.os.minix
Subject: What would you like to see most in minix?
Summary: small poll for my new operating system
Message-ID: <1991Aug25.205708.9541@klaava.Helsinki.FI>
Date: 25 Aug 91 20:57:08 GMT
Organization: University of Helsinki

Hello everybody out there using minix -
I’m doing a (free) operating system (just a hobby, won’t be big and professional like gnu) for 386(486) AT clones. This has been brewing since april, and is starting to get ready. I’d like any feedback on things people like/dislike in minix, as my OS resembles it somewhat (same physical layout of the file-system (due to practical reasons) among other things).

I’ve currently ported bash(1.08) and gcc(1.40), and things seem to work. This implies that I’ll get something practical within a few months, and I’d like to know what features most people would want. Any suggestions are welcome, but I won’t promise I’ll implement them

Linus (torvalds@kruuna.helsinki.fi)

PS. Yes - it’s free of any minix code, and it has a multi threaded fs.

It is NOT protable (uses 386 task switching etc), and it probably never will support anything other than AT-harddisks, as that’s all I have :-(.

Note how Linus was soliciting feedback and assistance so early in the project; by doing so, he was embedding the operating system with this unique set of principles. This has developed organically, and of course, not everyone believes in it. However, collaborative, experimental, educational computing with a supportive process of change is continuing to win victories in the marketplace and with users. Not explaining the Linux Ethos to new users will damage their experience with the OS; forgetting the Ethos will mean obstacles to continued progress.

Hopefully now that Windows is falling to pieces and projects like Ubuntu Linux are recruiting vast numbers of new users, the Ethos will not fall by the wayside. It would be a shame if it did; nothing would be a more sure recipe for Linux to lose its way.

Trackback URI | Comments RSS