Linux Kernel R & D worth over 1 Billion Euros

Researchers at the University of Oviedo in Spain have estimated the total value to write the 2.6.30 linux kernel to be over 1 billion euros and claim it would take 985 developers 14 years to complete!

They have reached this figure by using the development history of kernels from version 2.6.11 to 2.6.30, the average salary of a developer and the number of lines of code written.

By looking at the estimated annual costs of the R&D it was discovered that 2008 was the most expensive at €228 million .Between 2005 and 2006, annual R&D was estimated at between €72 to €94 million.