Linus Torvalds: Programs exist for their users
In my experience binary compatibility on linux is a train wreck. Ever tried to get a binary compiled 5 years ago to run on a fresh install of linux?<p>Good luck.<p>If you still have the specific version of every shared library that it loaded you <i>might</i> be able to get it to work.<p>This isn't the fault of the kernel team though.<p>It is probably to be expected on platforms in which distributing source code is the default option, but it makes the platform very hostile to closed source applications, particularly games.