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In Praise of Modularity
If this laptop can last another week, then it'll be up (without reboot) since 2023. Until 2026. Not bad for a "desktop system", or even for a server for that matter...
$ uptime 05:02:13 up 740 days, 21:14, 2 users, load average: 7.39, 7.12, 7.07
It's not like this machine worked perfectly throughout those years. There were times I had to intervene and kill some offending processes, restart plasmashell, even rush to tty2. The modularity of the system, however, paid off. I was able to isolate the problems and correct them.
GNU started as a sort of copycat of UNIX, sans the licensing. Building the whole system piecewise was seen as desirable. The kernel, Linux, eventually 'fell into place' because GNU's HURD wasn't quite ready. █
Abstract: "Organizational and managerial theories of modularity applied to the design and production of complex artifacts are used to interpret the rise and success of Free/Open Source Software methodologies and practices in software engineering. Strengths and risks of the adoption of a modular approach in software project management are introduced and are related to the achievements of the GNU/Linux project as a whole, as well as to the outcomes of some of its sub–projects. It is suggested that mindful implementation of the principles of modularity may improve the rate of success of many Free/Open Source software projects. Specific case studies here depicted, as well as indirect observation of common programming practices employed by Free/Open Source developers and users, suggest a possible revision towards an improved theory of modularity that may be extended also to settings different from software production."