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Twenty years ago, I doubt many people gave much thought to anyone creating a new SCM. Is your premise that twenty years ago people would have accurately predicted other software trends? Was ruby on rails an inevitable development?

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No. My premise is that I do no think that many people would have thought it likely that the hobby project by that "kid on c.o.minix" would bring about a software development tool that Minix would one day use...

Actually, when you put it like that, it does sound likely. I am speaking from the point of view of a person who knows very little about these "Kernel wars".

Your premise is bogus and entirely based on hindsight. The initial spat between Linus and Andrew was based on their approaches to system design not on the merits of their programming or design abilities.

What is bogus about being interested in such a confluence of unlikely events? I can not imagine a human interest piece in the NYT not including this in the narrative.

What does hindsight have to do with anything? It seems that any discussion about the relationship of two individuals is always retrospective...

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