Software patents, in particular, are very ripe for abuse. The whole system encourages big corporations getting thousands and thousands of patents. Individuals almost never get them.
Linus TorvaldsRead
I often compare open source to science. To where science took this whole notion of developing ideas in the open and improving on other peoples' ideas and making it into what science is today and the incredible advances that we have had. And I compare that to witchcraft and alchemy, where openness was something you didn't do.
Interpretation
What this quote means
Open source development is compared to scientific progress, emphasizing collaboration and transparency.
In this quote, Linus Torvalds draws a parallel between open source software development and the scientific method. He highlights how science has thrived through the open exchange of ideas, which contrasts sharply with historical practices of secrecy in witchcraft and alchemy. By advocating for openness, Torvalds suggests that collaborative improvement is essential for innovation, much like it is in scientific advancements.
Themes
Open SourceScienceCollaborationInnovationTransparency
In practice
Example use cases
In a tech conference speech emphasizing teamwork
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Most of the good programmers do programming not because they expect to get paid or get adulation by the public, but because it is fun to program.
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I have an ego the size of a small planet.
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I've felt strongly that the advantage of Linux is that it doesn't have a niche or any special market, but that different individuals and companies end up pushing it in the direction they want, and as such you end up with something that is pretty balanced across the board.
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