Linus Torvalds
Early Life and Education
Linus Torvalds was born on December 28, 1969, in Helsinki, Finland. His parents, Nils and Anna Torvalds, were both journalists. He was named after Linus Pauling, the Nobel Prize-winning American chemist. Torvalds was exposed to computers at an early age and quickly developed an interest in programming. He attended the University of Helsinki from 1988 to 1996, where he studied Computer Science. During his time at university, he became particularly interested in operating systems.
Linux
In 1991, while still a student at the University of Helsinki, Torvalds began work on what would become the Linux kernel. He started this as a personal project to learn more about the Intel 80386 microprocessor, the first one in the Intel x86 series that had a memory management unit (MMU). He was also inspired by the philosophy of free and open-source software, particularly as espoused by the GNU Project.
The initial release of the Linux kernel, version 0.01, was released to the internet in September 1991. This release was limited in scope, but it attracted a community of developers who began to contribute to the kernel. Over the next few years, this community expanded and the Linux kernel matured. Today, the Linux kernel is used in a wide range of systems from supercomputers to smartphones, and it forms the basis for the Android operating system.
Git
In 2005, Torvalds created the Git version control system. This was in response to a licensing dispute and subsequent fallout with the developers of BitKeeper, a proprietary version control system that had been used by the Linux kernel developers. Git was designed to be a distributed version control system, meaning that every copy of a codebase is a complete repository with full history and version-tracking capabilities. This is in contrast to centralized version control systems, where there is a single, central repository. Git has since become one of the most popular version control systems, particularly for open-source projects.
Personal Life
Torvalds is married to Tove Torvalds, a six-time Finnish national karate champion. They have three daughters. The family moved to the United States in 1996, and in 2010, Torvalds became a naturalized U.S. citizen. He currently resides in Portland, Oregon.
Legacy and Impact
Torvalds' creation of the Linux kernel and the Git version control system has had a profound impact on the world of software development. Linux has become a cornerstone of the open-source movement, and it underpins much of the modern internet. Git, likewise, has become an essential tool for software developers around the world.
Despite his significant contributions, Torvalds is known for his humble and pragmatic approach. He continues to oversee development of the Linux kernel, coordinating the efforts of thousands of contributors around the world.