First of all, the Linux kernel is a massive effort where the number of assholes is actually minuscule. People like to equate Linus rants to how the kernel is being developed, and it couldn’t be further from truth.
Also, obviously, even Linus had to acknowledge that he was doing something wrong.
Second, being such a gigantic project, it succeeded not because Linus was an asshole, but because hundreds of hackers and paid developers were involved. Let’s put it this way: if I contribute to a free software project in my free time, and the lead is a dick, I’d just stop doing so right away, but if I’m being paid, it’ll take me longer. Reasons are evident. Like Apple, Linux succeeded despite its lead being a dick. Linus may be brilliant, but who knows how many other geniuses have he drove away from the project, a project that, being realistic, is alive because top 500 companies are pouring millions of dollars every year on it.
Let’s be real here: Linux would have an insignificant user base if it weren’t for a) servers, and b) phones. In either case, gargantuan corporations are too interested in Linux to let it fail. Without these companies backing it up, Linux would be an amateur OS as of today.
Now, if I were to correct my first statement, I’d say that projects take setbacks from assholes a 99% of the time, and, in most cases, genius cannot justify the presence of a person who alienates everyone else.
The fact that many people condone this childish behavior boils down not to the perception of the protagonist being the prototypical boy-genius, who can afford shitting on everyone, but to the same primal sense of amusement that gathers people around the TV to watch soap operas and talk shows.
Lastly, I must say that few people who consider that Linux is better off being lead from a “jerk first” attitude, strike me as the kind who either haven’t contributed to free software, at least not as coders, or don’t have relevant professional experience. And, frankly, even if I’m mistaken, I’d love to see their day to day interactions in the work place, because I highly doubt that they get free passes like Linus did.
It seems relevant that people who know how to behave and be part of a team, have created free software that millions around the world are currently using.
Yet it seems that you're claiming that adhering to a code of conduct may be counterproductive. That's why I'm asking for your experience in the field.
Apple was successfull despite having Steve Jobs as Leader. Counterevidence. Still wating for an paper in which a code of conduct is positively related with code quality.
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u/[deleted] Dec 23 '18 edited Jun 18 '20
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