Linus Torvalds

Linus Benedict Torvalds ( https://itsfoss.com/linus-torvalds-facts/ ) ( born 28 December, 1969, Helsinki, Finland) is a Finnish-American Code Manager and Maintainer. Linus is the creator of the Linux Kernel; a foundation for the open-source operating system, and Git, the most popular version control manager.

Today, Linus' kernel runs the internet ( https://hostingtribunal.com/blog/linux-statistics/ ) . Linux is, by far, the most popular foundation for mobile phones and servers.

Early life, Education

Torvalds was born into a family of two journalists, and five siblings. Linus' interest in computers began early. Torvalds' interest in computing was sparked by his Grandfather ( https://www.biofamouspeople.com/biography/linus-torvalds ), a professor of Statistics at the University fo Helenski. By the age of ten, Torvalds was writing programs in on his grandfather's computer, in BASIC. https://itsfoss.com/linus-torvalds-facts/ ). In the words of his sister, Sarah, "Just give Linus a spare closet with a good computer in it and feed him some dry pasta, and he'll be perfectly happy." ( https://www.wired.com/2003/11/linus/ ) Linus was often received as an introvert; quiet, studious: he preferred to be with books over people. ( https://www.famousinventors.org/linus-torvalds )

Torvalds' received his master's degree in Computer Science from the University of Helsinki ( https://www.computerhistory.org/fellowawards/hall/linus-torvalds/ ). Today, Torvalds remains the most well-recognized alumni from that program. Linus, in particular, credited the University with giving him "pretty free reign to work on Linux." ( https://www.cs.helsinki.fi/en/story/75798/linus-torvalds-inspiring-department-students ) While at the University, he met his wife, Tove. ( https://itsfoss.com/linus-torvalds-facts/ ). The pair went on to have three daughters.

Linux and Open Source

Torvalds' motivation for creating Linux was simple: he disliked MS-DOS. As a student at the University of Helenski, Torvalds had grown accustom to an UNIX system interface. However, there were no UNIX implementations that were easily available on home computers. Torvalds set out to change this, with his implementation of Linux. Although not a UNIX operating system per se, Linux is a close approximation. Crucially, Torvalds elected to make his implementation free and open source; anyone could build and use Linux, providing a unix-like environment to the masses. ( https://www.famousinventors.org/linus-torvalds )

Despite Linux's association with the free and open source software movement, Torvalds claims not to care much for open source. In fact, he views it simply as an engine for comments ( https://www.techrepublic.com/article/linux-creator-linus-torvalds-doesnt-really-care-about-open-source/ )--feedback on his work. In Torvalds' view, open source is "just a superior way of working together and generating code"; the project simply needed more eyes.

Public Image

In the tech community, Torvalds is known for his austere demeanor and pithy speech. Torvalds delights in shaming is Kernel contributors--and throwing insults in general ( https://arstechnica.com/information-technology/2013/07/linus-torvalds-defends-his-right-to-shame-linux-kernel-developers/ ). Excerpts include: “Please just kill yourself now. The world will be a better place” and “Guys, this is not a dick-sucking contest”

This style of management has lead to some level of controversy.