Binary incompatibility of Linux distributions

[Odd]

Amedee Van Gasse (Ubuntu) wrote:
> On Tue, May 12, 2009 13:43, Odd wrote:
>> One of my pet peeves with Linux has been that software for
>> one distro is incompatible with another. There are work-arounds of course,
>> but they should really not be needed.
> 
> It seems like Mark Shuttleworth, the founder of Ubuntu, and Linus
> Torvalds, founder of Linux, disagree with you.

Sure, that's their prerogative. :)

> Read Mark's arguments on
> https://wiki.ubuntu.com/MarkShuttleworth#What%20about%20binary%20compatibility%20between%20distributions?
> 
> At the bottom we read what Linus thinks:
> 
> It is worth noting that the Linux kernel itself takes the same approach,
> shunning "binary compatibility" in favour of a "custom monolithic kernel".
> Each release of the kernel requires that it be compiled separately from
> previous releases. Modules (drivers) need to be recompiled with the new
> release, they cannot just be used in their binary form. Linus has
> specifically stated that the monolithic kernel - based on source code, not
> trying to maintain a binary interface for drivers across releases - is
> better for the kernel. We believe the same is true for the distribution.

I do see their point, but from an end-user's POV, it's a hassle.

-- 
Odd