Comment by steveklabnik

I am trying to explain why someone would say this.

I think Rust in Linux makes sense, but honestly, Rust doesn’t need Linux to be successful, and I barely use Linux personally. If they decide Rust for Linux is not a thing, that’s for the folks who work on and care about Linux to deal with. This isn’t my fight, I am just observing.

I’ve been primarily a Windows user for many years now, but I do use some WSL. My main OS is already shipping Rust, and in the actual kernel, without all of this wailing and gnashing of teeth. (That said I respect the approach Linux is taking here, I don't think it's inherently bad.)

Oh, and honestly, what I believe is happening here is just that, from Linus's perspective, folks should know that because this isn't in Hellwig's part of the tree, his NACK doesn't actually matter, and he'll just end up pulling this patch in anyway. There's no need to intervene because there isn't actually obstruction going on. The internet is just going wild about this drama because they fundamentally misunderstand how kernel development works, and because people are slinging mud on the LKML. That's why he only commented on Hector's behavior.

I can see that perspective, though I would prefer a different management style, but that's also why (among other reasons) I don't care to contribute to the kernel.