Linus Torvalds is a Finnish-American software engineer who is best known for initiating the development of the Linux kernel in 1991, which led to the creation of the Linux operating system. Here is an in-depth look into his contributions:
Early Life and Education
- Born on December 28, 1969, in Helsinki, Finland.
- Graduated from the University of Helsinki with a Master's degree in Computer Science in 1996.
Development of Linux
- In 1991, while at the University of Helsinki, Torvalds began developing a new operating system kernel which he initially called "Freax." This was later renamed Linux after his colleague Ari Lemmke named the directory it was stored in.
- The first public release of Linux was on September 17, 1991, under the GNU General Public License (GPL).
- Linux quickly gained popularity due to its open-source nature, allowing anyone to contribute, modify, or distribute the software.
Contributions to Open Source
- Linus Torvalds has been a staunch advocate for open-source software, influencing the philosophy of software development.
- He introduced the Git version control system in 2005 to better manage the development of the Linux kernel. Git has since become one of the most widely used tools for software development.
- He also developed the Subsurface project, an open-source scuba dive log program.
Recognition and Awards
- Received the EFF Pioneer Award in 1998 for his contributions to software freedom.
- Received the Lovelace Medal from the British Computer Society in 2000.
- Time magazine named him one of the "100 Most Influential People in the World" in 2004.
- Received an honorary doctorate from the University of Stockholm in 2000.
Current Role
- As of now, Linus Torvalds continues to oversee the development of the Linux kernel, maintaining the final say on what changes are merged into the kernel.
- He works for the Linux Foundation, which supports the growth of Linux and collaborative development.
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