Surprising Facts of Linux

Read: Linux: Fewer Bugs Than Rivals

Points of the article:

• Open-source development results in less-bugs, thus better and secure software
• Linux 2.6 kernel contains 5.7 million lines of code
• Windows XP contains 40 million lines of code
• Linux 2.6 kernel contains approximately 0.17 bug in every 1000 lines of code (985 bugs in 5.7 million lines of code. 627 were in critical parts of the kernel; 569 could cause a system crash; 100 were security holes; and 33 could result in less-than-optimal system performance)
• Typical commercial software has 20 to 30 bugs in every 1000 lines of code

What a big difference of size between Linux and Windows. Did they mean Windows XP kernel alone or the entire OS? That Linux has less bugs and is more secure is not a surprise. But the size difference and number of bugs in Linux are a surprise to me.