In an interview with ZDNet.co.uk, Linux project lead Linus Torvalds noted that it is not easy to become a "big contributor" to the Linux kernel. While it is relatively easy to contribute small patches, the situation is different for large modifications. Other than the size and complexity of the kernel, Torvalds acknowledged that it does take time to learn about how the development community works. Sending in huge chunks of rewritten kernel code without warning will just be "frustrating for everybody." At the end of the day, it is more about human interaction than a quantifiable set of steps to adhere to. To prevent developers from becoming frustrated with the process, the Linux Foundation has released a guide to Linux kernel development [1] for those who are interested.
For more on this article:
- check out this ZDNet News article [2]
Links:
[1] http://news.zdnet.co.uk/software/0,1000000121,39461788,00.htm
[2] http://news.zdnet.com/2424-9595_22-216672.html