Development Methodology - Linux example

• Example: Linux - overtook *BSD kernel's 10 year head start!

  • 14 "stable" releases since January of 1999, with ~10 "pre" patch sets for each kernel - ~ once every 2 days!
  • Catch retrogressions and compatibility problems immediately
  • Minimizes work to integrate patches/improvements
  • Feedback on modularity designs
  • "nasty bug" trapping in "pre" releases
  • Other patches and Not-Yet-Ready-for-Prime-Time ideas
  • Bug detection and isolation to most recent patches
  • Personal example: simple bug fix, mail of patch to applied into master pool - 5 minutes!, available within 2 days!
  • Provides amazing incentives to contribution