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Linus Torvalds Awarded the Millenial Technology Prize 91

Posted by Unknown Lamer from the stems-cells-kernels-same-thing-right dept.
Karrde712 writes "In a first for the Millennium Technology Prize, both Laureates were awarded the prize. Linus Torvalds was recognized for the creation of the Linux kernel and its continuing impact on enhancing scientific progress throughout the world. Dr. Shinya Yamanaka was recognized for his work in the development of induced pluripotent stem cells for medical research." New submitter Elessar wrote in about the BBC's related interview with Linus "... touching on many subjects including Linux on the desktop, Raspberry Pi, and the weirdness of his employment contract." (He did another one with Linux.com earlier this week too).
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Linus Torvalds Awarded the Millenial Technology Prize More

Linus Torvalds Awarded the Millenial Technology Prize

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  • Don't you mean... (Score:5, Funny)

    by Anonymous Coward on Wednesday June 13, 2012 @10:13AM (#40308547)

    Don't you mean GNU/Linus Torvalds Awarded the Millenial Technology Prize?

    -

    rms

    • Re:Don't you mean... (Score:4, Informative)

      by amazeofdeath ( 1102843 ) on Wednesday June 13, 2012 @10:22AM (#40308637)

      No, because the prize was awarded for developing just the kernel.

    • Re:Don't you mean... (Score:5, Informative)

      by jellomizer ( 103300 ) on Wednesday June 13, 2012 @10:27AM (#40308693)

      Well Linus was mostly on the Linux Kernel. The Linux Kernel isn't GNU/Linux. Technically you can build an OS off the Linux Kernel, that isn't "Unixy" at all. The GNU (GNU Not Unix) is model to make a Unix like system without any Unix Code (unlike Free/Open/Net/... BSD) Most of what we call Linux Distributions is the GNU/Linux OS packaged with custom set of software.
      However you could make an OS that doesn't look or feel like Linux or Unix. Off the Linux kernel, (with perhaps some similar boot messages) But the OS would work and behave quite differently.

      • Like Novell OES-Linux and Cisco NX-OS.

        I think Android would still be considered a Unix through and through (going purely on behavior rather then trademarks and licensing)

        I always found it weird that you could just plop a non-Unix user space right on top of a Unix kernel. But I guess with enough abstraction anything is possible.

        • Re: (Score:2)

          by PPH ( 736903 )

          The "Unixy" attributes of Linux (or any other *NIX) is the kernel, filespace, API, and libraries.

          The whole Unix/non-Unix user space is a misconception. What you are referring to is an X/Motif, Gnome, KDE, Android, or shell UI. There are *NIX UIs that are nothing more than some LEDs and a few pushbuttons. That doesn't make them any less Unixy.

          • The whole Unix/non-Unix user space is a misconception. What you are referring to is an X/Motif, Gnome, KDE, Android, or shell UI

            Or he was referring to the Unix concept of user space vs kernel space. User space where the user's programs are loaded and executed with the user's permissions, which is entirely independent and separated from the kernel space. Sounds like you're confusing user space with UI.

          • I believe you have miss-interpreted what I said, but I understand what you mean.

            What I mean is that there are certain expectations a Unix user might have of their user space and how they interact with it. Think of it as a cultural/unwritten standard. Some user space tools like GNU feel more Unixy then a few LEDs and push-buttons. After all, you can't really pipe the output of an LED into a push-button, though I'm sure you could modify the system to pipe the signal going to an LED into whatever the push-butt

    • This site has gone to shit (Score:2)

      by Anonymous Coward

      Now we've got a bunch of comments attacking Linus Torvalds! Are the people on here so desperate to be contrary and hip that they will support literally ANY non-mainstream viewpoint?

      We complain about slashdot's stories creating misleading controversy through provocative headlines and summaries.

      But we get a story where we can say "Thanks, Linus - you did good" - and we fill it with stupid bickering. No wonder nobody important posts here any more (not under their real names, anyway).

  • So sick of this.. (Score:5, Funny)

    by Anonymous Coward on Wednesday June 13, 2012 @10:16AM (#40308581)

    I'm sick of this guy being recognized for inventing the Linux kernel just because his name is similar... when will people realize RMS invented Linux?

    • Re:So sick of this.. (Score:5, Insightful)

      by SJHillman ( 1966756 ) on Wednesday June 13, 2012 @10:24AM (#40308659)

      The way I understand it is that Torvalds came up with the kernel (which is what's being recognized here), but RMS created many of the other tools that turn Linux from a kernel into a full fledged operating system. Without both of them, Linux probably wouldn't have been successful.

      • Or possibly, if linux hadn't featured the gpl, it would be a niche OS with a version developed by apple or some other giants whose patents make it impossible to keep the free version on par with features.
        But speculaton on what could have happened is pointless.
        OTOH speculation on the future.... possibly linux in VMs or other security frameworks will be used for general and specialized purposes, until the guys running 20 VMs on their 16 core cellphones start to wonder if they would be better off with the micr

    • Re:So sick of this.. (Score:5, Interesting)

      by Millennium ( 2451 ) on Wednesday June 13, 2012 @11:50AM (#40309791)

      The thing with this is that RMS didn't invent Linux. He, among others, developed a set of tools that can be run on a number of Unix-like kernels, including Linux, but Linux itself is Linus' baby. The GNU toolset actually predates Linux itself.

      A surprising number of Linux systems don't run the GNU toolset at all. When you count Busybox and similar minimalist toolsets (which are GPL-licensed but not maintained by GNU, at this point in time there might even be more Linux/not-GNU devices than there are GNU/Linux devices.

  • Congratulations Linus (Score:5, Insightful)

    by FudRucker ( 866063 ) on Wednesday June 13, 2012 @10:26AM (#40308677)
    thanks to Linus and his colleagues and the many other FOSS/GNU/Linux developers we have many cool Linux distros to choose from, kudos to all who made it happen!

    • Re: (Score:2, Funny)

      by Anonymous Coward

      "we have many cool Linux distros to choose from"

      and fight over.

      Linux User 1 "Why the hell would you use that distro, should be Umbongo"

      Linux User 2 "Umbongo suck! Use Frisky Ferret"

      Linux User 3 "Frisky Ferret? That piece of shite - you need Smint"

      Linux User 4 "the year of Linux on the desktop!"

      etc. ad infinitum

    • Re: (Score:2, Insightful)

      by cpu6502 ( 1960974 )

      What about the GNU kernel? Linux wouldn't even exist without that foundation. (I suspect the inventor of that will be forgotten, just as people have forgotten the contributions of Jay Miner, Bob Yannes, Nolan Bushnell, Jack Tramel, Dennis Ritchie, etc.) All the popular press talks about if Jobs Gates.

    • Re:Congratulations Linus (Score:4, Insightful)

      by elashish14 ( 1302231 ) <profcalc4 AT gmail DOT com> on Wednesday June 13, 2012 @01:54PM (#40311865)

      Agreed, and it's the community that's so important. When you consider how versatile and ubiquitous the kernel is, you have to understand that it takes an extremely broad and diverse community of developers and other contributors to make it possible. Compare this to Microsoft, who can barely manage to port their operating system to ARM, and somehow they're raking in hundreds of billions of dollars.

      Even if you cast all of Linus' software development contibutions aside, the fact that he started such a diverse and prodigious community is worthy of several awards on its own.

  • Congratulation to "Mr. T."... apk (Score:1)

    by Anonymous Coward

    See subject-line: Says it all!

    * I'd wager it "blows his mind" to this very day that Linux took off as well as it has...

    APK

    P.S.=> I may "bust balls" on the "penguins" around here on /. (because of the years of "FUD" along the lines of "Windows != Secure & Linux = Secure" (since ANDROID shows us all that once a Linux (or any OS) gains "top spot" in marketshare on any given computing platform, it will be attacked rampantly, as Windows has been due to its overall overwhelming dominance of the PC Desktop

  • Congrats! (Score:5, Interesting)

    by kvvbassboy ( 2010962 ) on Wednesday June 13, 2012 @10:53AM (#40309047)

    That's awesome, Linus! Congrats, you really deserve it for revolutionizing software development twice in the last two decades.

    • Re: (Score:2, Insightful)

      by Anonymous Coward

      It's really nice to see a technology revolutionist reaping some financial rewards in his lifetime, too. A check for 600,000 euros goes a long way towards setting him up for life financially, and considering his ongoing efforts to further the Linux kernel, I think we want him to be able to do that and not to worry about his next paycheck. If the Linux Foundation ever goes tits up, he won't be at risk of losing the roof over his head (and over his computers)(and over his wife and children). That's all to t

  • That's weird.... (Score:1)

    by Anonymous Coward

    No nomination for Microsoft?

  • ah yes, the old "Millenial" prize. (Score:1)

    by Anonymous Coward

    Nothing's too menial for a Millenial.

  • Linus being a joint Grand Winner of the 2012 Millennium Technology Prize is a well deserved award to him.

    His original idea has brought together a large group of very smart people and his no-nonsense stile has kept this herd of cats working for a joint goal.

    My congratulations with the prize and thanks for making my computer a useful tool!

  • Too tame to be real Torvaldsian answers (Score:5, Funny)

    by Dystopian Rebel ( 714995 ) * on Wednesday June 13, 2012 @11:41AM (#40309663) Journal

    This is a plant by some Linux shill. Real Torvaldsian answers include calling people morons and telling them that they should just die.

    Assangians Assemble! Let's get the full transcript from the BBC and see what Linus REALLY said!

  • Millen (Score:2, Offtopic)

    by rossdee ( 243626 )

    Say what 'Milllenium' is this referring to? We have been in the 3rd millenium for over a decade now.
    Is thids some dating system I am not familiar with, like the Mayan calander?

  • Linux is nowhere close to as transformative technology as EMAIL! The award should have gone to V.A. Shiva Ayyadurai.

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