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Linux is a family of open source Unix-like operating systems based on the Linux kernel, an operating system kernel first released on September 17, 1991 by Linus Torvalds. Linux is typically packaged in a Linux distribution (or distro for short).
Distributions include the Linux kernel and supporting system software and libraries, many of which are provided by the GNU Project. Many Linux distributions use the word "Linux" in their name, but the Free Software Foundation uses the name GNU/Linux to emphasize the importance of GNU software, causing some controversy.
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the years as a system admin taught me that you can identify the influential contributors because they were the only people whose accounts were not immediately shut off when the management identified a bus factor.
and now i have a name for the phenomena; thank you.
I always thought the more developers you added the higher the likelihood of stalling.
Two different concepts.
You're talking about work slowing because of increased overhead from more people needing to communicate and make decisions.
The OP is talking about the"bus factor". How many people can leave the project unexpectedly and still have the project survive. E.g. if only one person has access to merge changes, the bus factor is 1 regardless of how many people actively contribute.
If the lessons that I've learned about lightbulb replacement are applicable, then the nationality of the developers on the bus will impact the answer to your question.
What will happen when Linus dies ?
I guess there's only one way to find out.
But please take a snapshot of the planet first