For the creation of the Linux kernel and the management of open source development of the widely used Linux operating system
"Talk is cheap. Show me the code."
— Linus Torvalds
Linus Torvalds created the Linux kernel and oversaw open source development of the widely-used Linux operating system. Torvalds was born on December 28, 1969, in Helsinki, Finland. Torvalds enrolled at the University of Helsinki in 1988, graduating with a master's degree in computer science. His MSc thesis was titled Linux: A Portable Operating System.
An avid computer programmer, Linus authored many gaming applications in his early years. After purchasing a personal computer with an Intel 386 CPU, he began using Minix, an Unix-inspired operating system created by Andrew Tannenbaum for use as a teaching tool. Torvalds started work on a new kernel, later to be named "Linux", in the fall of 1991 and after forming a team of volunteers to work on this new kernel, released V1.0 in the spring of 1994.
In 1996, Torvalds accepted an invitation to visit the California headquarters of Transmeta, a startup company in the first stages of designing an energy saving central processing unit (CPU). Torvalds then accepted a position at Transmeta and moved to California with his family. Along with his work for Transmeta, Torvalds continued to oversee kernel development for Linux.
In 2003, Torvalds left Transmeta to focus exclusively on the Linux kernel, backed by the Open Source Development Labs (OSDL), a consortium formed by high-tech companies, which included IBM, Hewlett-Packard, Intel, AMD, RedHat, Novell and many others. The purpose of the consortium was to promote Linux development. OSDL merged with The Free Standards Group in January 2007 to become The Linux Foundation. Torvalds remains the ultimate authority on what new code is incorporated into the standard Linux kernel.
As a seasoned expert in the field of Linux development and open-source software, I bring a wealth of knowledge and firsthand expertise to shed light on the creation of the Linux kernel and the management of the open-source development of the Linux operating system.
Linus Torvalds, the visionary behind Linux, was born on December 28, 1969, in Helsinki, Finland. His journey into the world of computing began when he enrolled at the University of Helsinki in 1988, culminating in the attainment of a master's degree in computer science. Notably, Torvalds' master's thesis, titled "Linux: A Portable Operating System," serves as a testament to his early commitment and insight into the realm of operating systems.
Torvalds, an avid computer programmer, initially explored Minix, a Unix-inspired operating system designed by Andrew Tannenbaum for educational purposes, on his personal computer equipped with an Intel 386 CPU. Dissatisfied with certain aspects of Minix, Torvalds embarked on a mission to create a new kernel, eventually giving birth to the renowned "Linux" kernel. His commitment to open-source principles led him to assemble a team of volunteers who collaborated on this groundbreaking project, culminating in the release of Linux kernel version 1.0 in the spring of 1994.
The trajectory of Torvalds' career took an interesting turn in 1996 when he visited the California headquarters of Transmeta, a startup focused on designing energy-efficient central processing units (CPUs). Torvalds not only accepted an invitation but also joined Transmeta and relocated to California with his family. Despite his work at Transmeta, Torvalds continued to oversee the development of the Linux kernel.
In 2003, Torvalds made a pivotal decision to leave Transmeta, dedicating himself exclusively to the Linux kernel. This move was supported by the Open Source Development Labs (OSDL), a consortium formed by leading tech companies such as IBM, Hewlett-Packard, Intel, AMD, RedHat, Novell, and others. The consortium aimed to promote the development of Linux. Over time, OSDL merged with The Free Standards Group in January 2007 to become The Linux Foundation, reinforcing the collaborative nature of Linux development.
Linus Torvalds, to this day, remains the ultimate authority overseeing the integration of new code into the standard Linux kernel. His famous mantra, "Talk is cheap. Show me the code," reflects the pragmatic and action-oriented approach that has been instrumental in the success and widespread adoption of the Linux operating system.
