Re: [RFC] Unify KVM kernel-space and user-space code into a single project

Ingo Molnar
2010-03-22T14:26:57Z

* Avi Kivity <avi@redhat.com> wrote:

> On 03/22/2010 01:39 PM, Ingo Molnar wrote:
> >
> > Reality is, the server space never was and never will be self-sustaining
> > in the long run (as Novell has found it out with Netware), it is the
> > desktop that dictates future markets. This is why i find your views about
> > this naive and shortsighted.
>
> Yet Linux is gaining ground in the server and embedded space while
> struggling on the desktop. [...]

Frankly, Linux is mainly growing in the server space due to:

1) the server space is technically much simpler than the desktop space. It
is far easier to code up a server performance feature than to make
struggle through stupid (server-motivated) package boundaries and get
something done on the desktop. It is far easier to code up a server app
as that space is well standardized and servers tend to be compartmented.
Integration between server apps is much less common than integration
between desktop apps, hence the harm that our modularization idiocies
cause less harm.

2) Linux's growth is still feeding on the remains of the destruction of Unix.

Linux is struggling on the desktop due to the desktop's inherent complexity,
due to the lack of the Unix inertia and due to incompetence, insensitivity,
intellectual arrogance and shortsightedness of server-centric thinking, like
your arguments/position displayed in this very thread.

> [...] Apple is gaining ground on the desktop but is invisible on the server
> side (despite having a nice product - Xserve).

But the thing is, Apple doesnt really care about the server space, yet. It is
lucrative but it is a side-show: it will fall automatically to the 'winner' of
the desktop (or gadget) of tomorrow.

Has the quick fall of Banyan Vines or Netware (both excellent all-around
server products) taught you nothing?

We need a lot more desktop focus in the kernel community. The best method to
achieve this, that i know of currently, is to simply have kernel developers
think outside the kernel box and to have them do bits of user-space coding as
well - and in particular desktop coding. To eat our own dogfood in essence.
Suffer through crap we cause to user-space. To face the _real_ difficulties of
users. We seem to have forgotten our roots.

> [...]
>
> It's true Windows achieved server dominance through it's desktop power, but
> I don't think that's what keeping them there now.

What is keeping them there is precisely that.

> In any case, I'm not going to write a kvm GUI. It doesn't match my skills,
> interest, or my employer's interest. If you wish to see a kvm GUI you have
> to write one yourself or convince someone to write it (perhaps convince Red
> Hat to fund such an effort beyond virt-manager).

As a maintainer you certainly dont have to write a single line of code, if you
dont want to. You 'just' need to care about the big picture and encourage/help
the flow and balance of the whole project.

Ingo