On Mon, Jun 2, 2014 at 3:30 PM, John Cowan <cowan@mercury.ccil.org> wrote:

Dan Cross scripsit:

> But nostalgia aside, something I find interesting (and frankly a bit
> distressing) is what seems to me to simply be an acceptance that it's all
> going to end with Linux. That is to say, no one ever seems to talk about
> what will come *after* Linux. Will Linus's kernel truly be the last kernel
> anyone works on seriously? Somehow I very much doubt that. And yet, you
> don't see a lot of talk about evolutionary paths beyond Linux; it's a sort
> of tunnel vision.

This is like asking when there will be a new scientific discovery in some
field.

Forgive me, but I think that's a bit of an odd analogy (or perhaps an indication that I did not adequately explain what I meant). However, let me run with it for a moment and rephrase my statement: there can only be a discovery if one decides it's worth doing the sort of investigation that would lead to a new discovery, and I wonder whether "we" still have that kind of curiosity or drive. Or has Linux become so entrenched that no one can imagine bothering anymore?

There will be a new kernel when someone decides, as Linus did, to
write a new kernel. If it catches on, it may supplement or replace Linux.

To whit: it appears that "we" (for some large value of "we") have collectively decided that it's not worth looking for a replacement for Linux. If nothing else, I find that interesting.

- Dan C.