The mind behind Linux | Linus Torvalds | TED

Summary

In this TED Talk, Linus Torvalds, the creator of Linux, shares his journey from a solitary programmer to the head of a vast open-source community. He discusses the humble beginnings of Linux, which started as a personal project and grew into a global phenomenon without an initial vision for collaboration. Torvalds emphasizes the importance of simplicity, quiet focus, and the gradual evolution of the Linux community. He also introduces Git, another project born out of the need to manage large-scale software development efficiently. Torvalds downplays his role as a visionary, preferring to focus on solving immediate problems and celebrating the diverse contributions of the open-source community.

Takeaways

• 🌐 Linus Torvalds created Linux, software that now powers a significant portion of the internet and is present in every Android device.
• 🏠 Despite the global impact of his work, Torvalds works alone from a modest home office, emphasizing the importance of a calm and quiet environment for his programming.
• 🐱 His preference for a peaceful workspace is so strong that he prioritizes the purring of his cat over the noise of computer fans.
• 🤝 Torvalds did not initially intend for Linux to be a collaborative project, but the open-source community's contributions transformed it into a global phenomenon.
• 👨‍💻 He values the feedback and ideas from others, even more than their code contributions, which he sees as a form of validation and improvement for his work.
• 🔧 Torvalds developed Git, a version control system, to manage the massive scale of Linux's development with thousands of contributors.
• 👓 He identifies as more of a practical engineer than a visionary, focusing on solving immediate problems rather than dreaming big.
• 🤝 Open source allows people with different skills and interests to collaborate effectively, even if they don't necessarily get along personally.
• 💼 Torvalds is comfortable with companies making profits from his open-source work, recognizing the trade-offs and benefits of the open-source model.
• 🔑 Good 'taste' in coding, for Torvalds, means having an instinct for the right way to structure and write code, which is more important than just technical skill.

Q & A

What was Chris Anderson's initial impression of Linus Torvalds' software headquarters?

Chris Anderson was shocked by the simplicity of Linus Torvalds' software headquarters, as he expected something more impressive given the widespread use of Linux in millions of computers and Android devices.

Why did Linus Torvalds stop using the walking desk in his office?

Linus Torvalds mentioned that the walking desk was the most interesting part of his office, but he stopped using it because he prefers to work in a quiet environment without external stimulation.

What does Linus Torvalds consider important in his work environment?

Linus Torvalds values a quiet and calm work environment. He prefers a computer that is completely silent and a color scheme on his walls that is non-stimulating, similar to what is used in mental institutions for its calming effect.

How does Linus Torvalds describe his initial approach to working on Linux?

Linus Torvalds started working on Linux alone, in his house, and often in his bathrobe. He did not initially start it as a collaborative project but rather as a personal project that he enjoyed working on.

What was Linus Torvalds' reaction to the idea of open source when he first encountered it?

Initially, Linus Torvalds was worried about commercial interests coming in and taking advantage of his work. However, he eventually decided to adopt the open-source methodology after considering it for a while.

How did Linus Torvalds' perspective on open source change over time?

Linus Torvalds' perspective on open source evolved from not being on his radar initially to becoming a crucial part of his work process. He found value in the feedback and ideas from others, which led him to embrace the open-source community.

What was the primary motivation behind Linus Torvalds creating Git?

Linus Torvalds created Git to manage the increasing scale of Linux development. As the number of contributors grew, he needed a system to efficiently handle the collaboration and code maintenance.

How does Linus Torvalds view his role in the open-source community?

Linus Torvalds sees himself as an engineer rather than a visionary. He focuses on solving immediate problems and improving the technology at hand, rather than having a grand vision for the future.

What does Linus Torvalds think about the commercial success of companies using his software?

Linus Torvalds is not upset about the commercial success of companies using his software. He believes that the open-source nature of Linux allowed it to become what it is today, and he is content with the choices he made.

How does Linus Torvalds define 'good taste' in coding?

Linus Torvalds defines 'good taste' in coding as the ability to see the big patterns and instinctively knowing the right way to do things. It involves simplifying code to eliminate special cases and making it more efficient and elegant.

What is Linus Torvalds' stance on the comparison between being a visionary like Tesla and a practical engineer like Edison?

Linus Torvalds identifies more with Edison than Tesla. He appreciates the practical, hard work and problem-solving approach that Edison represents, rather than the visionary and idea-driven approach of Tesla.