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A regression is the kernel not giving the same result with the same user space

lkml.iu.edu

301–310 of 408 posts

Re: A regression is the kernel not giving the same result with the same user space

#301

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I disagree. To me he usually comes across as an asshole, albeit an extremely smart and accomplished one. A working environment where the person at the top can be relied upon to react to human failings with an aggressive, sweary [1] rant is not somewhere I ever want to work. [1] I'm aware that use of profanity in everyday speech is common in Finland. I don't mind swearing per se, but I find its over-use a bit tedious.

Anecdata: I grew up in Finland. It's common if you're 15-16 and in middle school, but I've rarely heard adults swear in the workplace or in public (unless inebriated). If Linus wants to use perkele management, then I guess it's his project. Doesn't mean it's the right way to do things.

> It's common if you're 15-16 and in middle school

This part is probably globally true :D

Re: A regression is the kernel not giving the same result with the same user space

#302

Earlier quoted context omitted.

He's being stupid, using words he doesn't understand (He already failed in the usage of the word 'regression.') He's throwing a childish tantrum and THAT is the primary reason I won't touch Linux (well that and I can hardlock any Linux system by making a 4kb encrypted RAMDisk, and it's been left unfixed for years, allowing me to find dozens of nice memory issues, [especially with the buffer cache,] and most of these…

I'm willing to bet my entire life savings that Linus understands the meaning of the word regression in this context better than you.

Having read the entire mailing list thread, no, he is NOT using the word correctly. I suggest you read the entire thread. Regression in the case of code indicates this problem was there before, fixed, and resurfaced.

Simply breaking user space is not a regression. It is simply breaking things and nothing more unless this problem occurred once before.

Re: A regression is the kernel not giving the same result with the same user space

#303

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Do people who don't break users and lie about it get yelled at? Why are impolite words worse that actual harmful actions?

Though I don't disagree with Linus' words. He could convey the same thoughts without swearing. I don't swear and I'm very capable of correcting people when they mess up.

Why is not swearing a virtue?

Re: A regression is the kernel not giving the same result with the same user space

#304

Someone needs to codify this shit for when he leaves. Its surprising that he still needs to scream at people after two decades of kernel work. I don't have a lot of faith that whoever comes after him will be as proud of the kernel as he is given they just inherited most of it. Succession is a weird concept with linux but the fact that it has always been more stable than the other OS' is I think the main reason it is…

I don't think the Cook/Jobs comparison is fair.

It's always been well understood the the same people who are typically good are starting companies aren't typically the best people to run them once they achieve a certain scale.

Re: A regression is the kernel not giving the same result with the same user space

#305

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Because high quality kernel code is more important than not alienating contributors. If someone prefers softer conduct, they are free to fork the kernel and start their own efforts.

> If someone prefers softer conduct The big issue I see people reacting to is profanity. You can be as hard on someone, given the nature of the infraction, without using profane language or denigrating someone. If they don't comply, threaten exactly what Linus threatened, no more commits will be accepted. While I don't disagree with Linus' right to speak as he does. He can be just as effective without the type of lan…

How was the contributor in this case "denigrated"? There's a difference between calling someone stupid and calling their actions stupid. I've seen plenty of the latter from Linus, but never the former.

Re: A regression is the kernel not giving the same result with the same user space

#306

Someone needs to codify this shit for when he leaves. Its surprising that he still needs to scream at people after two decades of kernel work. I don't have a lot of faith that whoever comes after him will be as proud of the kernel as he is given they just inherited most of it. Succession is a weird concept with linux but the fact that it has always been more stable than the other OS' is I think the main reason it is…

How are "three generations of iphones" "cannibalizing each other and lack any real differences" ? Care to elaborate?

Re: A regression is the kernel not giving the same result with the same user space

#307

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I agree with how he's saying it. He's being honest. He's letting you know where he stands and what the rule is, without any kind of hidden message or room for interpretation. The other guy? Not being so honest.

There's an implicit idea around our culture that the more uncontrolled emotional content that someone communicates, especially anger, the more 'honest' they are - I think because it's intimidating, leaving less room for debate; it makes reasoning very difficult, leaving even less room for a rational approach; it's message is of being uncompromising, which also cuts off any thinking or discussion. By eliminating think…

I will never understand why this has been downvoted.

Re: A regression is the kernel not giving the same result with the same user space

#308
post #49

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> If my application depends on some of those zero'd fields, it seems like that has potential to cause serious debugging problems, as opposed to just causing an error on the parse. if your app didn't used to handle the 'zero' case (assuming zero was a "valid" value for said field), then the app was poorly written and would'be been broken in the first place. However, if the app _did_ handle the 'zero' case, then the ap…

There are many cases where continuing with invalid data is much worse than a parse error. Perhaps that's less likely in this case (hopefully your credit card payment doesn't depend on the values in /proc/ /stat), but as a rule, silently continuing with meaningless data is scary.

If your application relies on these sort of interfaces with the kernel, then presumably you're paying attention when you upgrade the kernel.

Re: A regression is the kernel not giving the same result with the same user space

#309
post #135

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Really? How so? If you have abstract types then you can easily make internal changes without making those changes visible externally.

As a simple example, suppose I swap out one container type with another one in the internal code. Both implement the same interface/traits, so the change isn't visible to users. But the time complexity of the container operations are different on the new type, and the user was depending upon the time characteristics of the old container. E.g., deletions are now O(n) instead of O(1). I've violated a user expectation w…

Nice counterexample!

Re: A regression is the kernel not giving the same result with the same user space

#310

Earlier quoted context omitted.

And I'm pretty sure Gates and Jobs were similar in their time.

For example: "My First BillG Review" https://www.joelonsoftware.com/2006/06/16/my-first-billg-rev...

That was a very good read. Kinda sad at the end.
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