Angles on Usefulness vs. Use

Ever since I reported the discovery that Linux is a species, a provisional insight that alpha kernel developer Greg Kroah-Hartman endorsed, calling it one of the most insitful descriptions about what the Linux kernel really is, I've been thinking about the distinction kernel developers make between kernel space and user space, and between usefulness and use.

The kernel folks make a sharp distinction between the two. I have heard (and read) Linus say, many times, "that's user space... I don't do user space". Even though, clearly, he lives in it.

A few weeks ago Don Marti told me that a similar distinction exists betwen usefulness and use in all open source projects.

So now I'm wondering about similar relationships from three other angles:

1. Standards developers
2. Commercial developers
3. IT professionals on the "customer" side (even when nothing is being bought), putting stuff to use.

Seems to me we need all these parties to make the world work. Also that they bring different values and approaches to usefulness and use.

I'll be posting more about this when I'm at eTech and SXSW this week. But I wanted to blab out my initial outline before I got started.

Thoughts, obviously, are welcome.