“LINUS TORVALDS and Bill Gates may have more in common than
merely being two of the world’s foremost ubergeeks.”
“Despite often being placed at either end of the computing
spectrum – Torvalds portrayed as the guerrilla hacker out to
destroy Gates’ Microsoft’s monopoly – both operate in a “gift
economy” with shared values.”
“Gates, the world’s richest man, guarantees his status through
fiscal philanthropy, Torvalds’ path to fame is through the software
that bears his name, Linux.”
“How do the very rich compete for status among themselves? They
compete to see who can give away the most in the most public way,”
Raymond told a gathering of about 200 delegates.”
“The hacker culture is a gift culture in a similar way.”