Sorry Richard but I disagree with this analogy.Oh no. So you're a creationist then?
Evolution theory is based on getting better from NON intelligence. Intelligence is NOT in the equation.
Linux and other free software is based on the collective intelligence of a whole lot of very smart people. If I was a programmer I would be a bit insulted if someone said my work, hard thought and know-how was in fact based on random input. I'd object and say that I don't just type in random characters into the keyboard along with a zillion other programmers and there happens to be the odd one that makes a good program. AND then some other RANDOM process figures out which is the best working program and includes that in the Linux kernel without any testing or whatever. NO.It was mostly your choice of language that tipped me off, but this ridiculous statement shows that you have no clue about what you're arguing against.
Evolution by natural selection can be defined as the non-random survival of imperfectly replicating enities. Notice the *non-random* bit?
Look at it this way:
Say many people decide to fork XFree86, and the choices they make about what to put into their new forks are fairly random.
The forks will obviously not end up identical to the 'parent' project: imperfect replication.
Over time, some will gain more widespread use than others: non-random survival.
Therefore, XFree86 has 'evolved'.
Linux changes and gets better and better over time as bit like modern car design or jet aircraft from biplane over time. It's refinement over time but it's NEVER random. How can something get better without intelligence behind it? Linux is MADE to be virus resistant by design. And design means a designer. And a designer means intelligence. Linux people are intelligent people. THAT'S why we don't get viruses. We use our intelligence.Try reading up about things such as the theory of evolution, emergent behaviour, genetic programming or biology in general.
I don't think SLUG is the place for proselytising either, thanks very much.
Felix
Richard Neal wrote:
The nearest single analogy I can come across that explains Linux security is Linux is based on an "evolutionary" development platform were the fittest and most diverse survive. Were windows has a forced evolutionary development based on what sells software. As anyone who has studied evolutionary science can attest the more diverse and random your genetic makeup, the higher the probability of survival in the natural ever on going virus arms race.
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