The Linux kernel, a 40-million-line behemoth, is grappling with escalating complexity, a demanding development culture, and the contentious integration of Rust. But the most alarming threat? The "AI code flood," which Linus Torvalds and maintainers are fighting to prevent from introducing "catastrophic" vulnerabilities. This deep dive reveals the uncompromising path forward.

https://www.tpp.blog/g3q24h9

#opensource #linuxkernel #linustorvalds

🤖 This post was AI-generated.

Linus Torvalds – der wohltuend andere Tech-Leader - Digitec
#linux
#LinusTorvalds #linux

https://www.digitec.ch/de/page/linus-torvalds-der-wohltuend-andere-tech-leader-43050

The Great Tanenbaum–Torvalds Flame War (1992)

In early 1992, a well respected computer science professor named Andrew Tanenbaum posted a message on Usenet with the title "Linux is obsolete." At the time, Tanenbaum was known for creating Minix, a small Unix like operating system used in universities. He argued that Linux was a step backward because it used a monolithic kernel design instead of a microkernel. He believed monolithic kernels were outdated and that Linux would never be relevant on modern hardware.

Linus Torvalds, who was only 21 years old and still a student in Finland, did not stay quiet. He replied directly in the same thread and defended his design choices. Linus explained that he built Linux to be practical and useful on the hardware people actually had, rather than following academic ideals. His response was respectful but firm, and he pushed back against Tanenbaum’s criticisms point by point.

What started as a technical disagreement quickly turned into one of the most famous public debates in computing history. The argument played out openly on Usenet in front of thousands of readers. Tanenbaum was seen as the established expert, while Linus was just a young developer working on a hobby project. Many people at the time agreed with Tanenbaum and thought Linux had little future.

Decades later, the outcome looks very different. Linux became the foundation of modern computing, powering servers, smartphones through Android, supercomputers, and embedded systems around the world. Minix, once considered the more advanced academic system, is now mostly remembered because of this debate.

The flame war did more than create drama. It helped spread early awareness of Linux and showed that a determined student could challenge established ideas and build something that lasted.

#Linux #LinusTorvalds #OpenSource #OpenSourceHistory #CodingHistory #DevLife

Born from Pure Spit

The Origin of Git

In 2005, the Linux kernel project was using a proprietary version control system called BitKeeper. The owner of BitKeeper, Larry McVoy, had given the Linux developers a free license because he liked open source. It worked well.

Then drama happened.

McVoy got into a fight with some Linux developers (specifically over reverse-engineering BitKeeper to make it work better with their workflow). In April 2005, he revoked the free license for the Linux kernel team.

Linus Torvalds was furious.
Instead of negotiating, begging, or switching to one of the existing open source version control systems at the time (like Subversion, which he hated), Linus did something completely unhinged:
He decided to write his own version control system from scratch.

According to multiple accounts, he started working on it around April 3rd, 2005. By April 6th, he was already managing the Linux kernel with his new tool. The initial version was written in about two weeks (some say the core was even faster). He named it Git a name he has described as a combination of British slang for "unpleasant person" and an acronym for "Global Information Tracker" (though he’s also said it stands for "Goddamn Idiotic Truckload of sh*t").

#Linux #TechDrama #OpenSourceHistory #RageCode
#DevLife #Git #LinusTorvalds
#BuiltOutOfSpite

Linus Torvalds lança Linux 7.1 após transtornos com IA; veja as novidades

https://fed.brid.gy/r/https://tecnoblog.net/noticias/linus-torvalds-lanca-linux-7-1-apos-transtornos-com-ia-veja-as-novidades/

RT @twtayaan: Der Erfinder von Linux hat die KI-Hype öffentlich kritisiert. Wort für Wort.

mehr auf Arint.info

#KI #KIHype #LinusTorvalds #Linux #OpenSource #Softwareentwicklung #arint_info

https://x.com/twtayaan/status/2062784735722537444#m

RT @twtayaan: Der Erfinder von Linux hat die KI-Hype öffentlich kritisiert. Wort für Wort.

mehr auf Arint.info

#KI #LinusTorvalds #Linux #OpenSource #SoftwareEngineering #TechNews #arint_info

https://x.com/twtayaan/status/2062784735722537444#m

The recording from the recent #OSSNA 2026 keynote chat between Linus Torvalds (@torvalds) and Dirk Hohndel (@dirkhh) is now available:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fi29pfLcW4I

If you want to know what you are about to watch or prefer a text summary, read this great article from @lwn that became freely available today:

https://lwn.net/Articles/1073761/ – Dirk and Linus discuss AI and #kernel development

#Linux #LinuxKernel #LinusTorvalds