The mind behind Linux | Linus Torvalds | TED

Linus Torvalds transformed technology twice - first with the Linux kernel, which helps power the Internet, and again with Git, the source code management system used by developers worldwide. In a rare interview with TED Curator Chris Anderson, Torvalds discusses with remarkable openness the personality traits that prompted his unique philosophy of work, engineering and life. "I am not a visionary, I'm an engineer," Torvalds says. "I'm perfectly happy with all the people who are walking around and just staring at the clouds ... but I'm looking at the ground, and I want to fix the pothole that's right in front of me before I fall in."
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[@prajwal.naladeega]

This ted talk was unlike any other 1. Not a man with vision 2. Not a man with big dreams 3. Not a man who is successful by selling products. A true "Dark Knight"

[@thirtycrows]

I wanted to upvote this but it was exactly at 100 so nope not gonna disturb the harmony although 128 would probably be nicer or actually 127.

[@prajwal.naladeega]

@@thirtycrows hahaha I like it. Thanks for the reply

[@betaman2009]

Linus is being sarcastic. He has a different concept of those ofcourse.

[@dharan.5285]

also rough around the edges and disagrees with softness..... He's like the Batman of the tech world

[@Sandeepan]

And then there is RMS

[@nathangek]

He is one of those people who has actually influenced every single persons lives without the majority knowing it.

[@Alex-jx7ww]

who would have thought linus tovalds and genhis khan had so much in common

[@informitas0117]

It's a bit like the seat belt and the polo vaccine.

[@Anonymous-nj2ow]

@@informitas0117 i think we're toddlers who learned to pick our heads up, if you're in computer science you're in for a real career

[@GhostsonAcid]

Yeah, you know, like _RICHARD MATTHEW STALLMAN._

[@danielcave6958]

Yea,.. he inspired me , in 1993, thanks Linus for the fish. :)

[@griffinnb]

“Wow that’s so crazy that your software is in everything” Linus: “I wanna hear my cat purr on my lap”

[@waldolemmer]

​@@momchilandonov Do you use the internet? What OS do you think most servers run on?

[@waldolemmer]

@@momchilandonov Lol no it's not

[@momchilandonov]

@@waldolemmer how it's not. Java is used in more than 5.5 billion devices. Even the MP3 players in cars use it :).

[@artem.boldariev]

@@momchilandonov What do you think your router runs? And on top of what OS do you think Java runs on most of these 5.5 billion devices? What do you think your smart TV runs as well (if you happen to have one)? You probably know the answer already.

[@momchilandonov]

@@artem.boldariev I am working in an ISP and worked with many cheap/expensive router vendors and generally they have their own OS. Sometimes some of the cheap ones are running on OS similar to Linux but not exactly Linux. Don't have a Smart TV :(. My point was that most computers are running on Windows as mostly Apple zombies buy Apple products. The smart people buy everything else - ASUS/HP/ACER etc. Apple is just mainstream in USA for some weird reason...

[@yamaduta7631]

He may not be a billionaire and famous like Musk,Bezos, Gates, Steve. But he is the most respected guy among techies. No money can buy that. We love you Linus ❤

[@superduper6090]

Linus is very cool ❤

[@M12Howitzer]

who are "we"? talk for your own self

[@ingathidup]

​@@M12Howitzerjust look the 👍

[@M12Howitzer]

@@unixlonix wouldn't "I love you Linus" be more of a personal position? talking for others is a sign of a talker feeling him or herself weak is social regard ;-)

[@scpmichael4595]

​@@M12Howitzer- He is as weak as you. His use of "we" includes those who agree with him. If you don't include yourself in this context, then responding in an offensive way makes you look weak. From this point of view, it is nothing more than a response written to say "I am separate, I am not one of you, I am different."

[@Turplemaple6318]

This guy made kernel at an age of 22 And here I am balancing switch between on and off.

[@Nick-lx4fo]

Lol, when I was little I used to do that with the light switches, when I would balance it close enough it would fizzle, never did it around my parents because I thought I would get in trouble

[@paulmueller100x]

@@Nick-lx4fo hahah

[@cswithabdullah2638]

, 🤣😂😆

[@andrescabrera6097]

Hello world lol

[@cassandradawn780]

@@Nick-lx4fo I got in trouble for this once, now I like electronics.

[@aleph285]

The host was trying to present him as a heroic figure, a dreamer with a vision because that’s more inspiring and perhaps more entertaining to the audience. But no, Linus has normal values just like the majority of us and he feels genuinely happy about it.

[@SlopedOtter]

That's the hosts entire approach, to make you think exactly that. I'm actually very impressed. Some hosts genuinely try to describe people that way in order to present the guest in a 'heroic' light, this host wants you to think "huh, that host doesn't get how humble Linus is".

[@fruitshishkabob]

@@hexa3389 I hate all those chad soydevs stealing all the hot coder girls. jk man I just wanted to use the term hot soydevs

[@hanyuc.6534]

I think this host is fine. He wanted to present that way but course-corrected in the middle.

[@kxkxkxkx]

"normal values" for a Scandinavian LOL

[@Mr_Bollie]

I like what the host did there. He didn't ask stupid question and was respectful. Yet, his approach to ask questions from the other end of the "heroic spectrum" tickled Linus to position himself and give the audience a bigger insight on who he is and how he's ticking.

[@kunalkavthekar3747]

"Linus Torvalds, thank you for the internet" is such an amazing compliment that went completely unnoticed 😄

[@rudeviper]

yeah man the whole internet runs on linux!

[@surajrayanade]

No man few people like you and me noticed it even in loud applause 👏

[@abdirasaqali7775]

@@rudeviper discrete math not all

[@sadface]

Yup between Linus and Tim Berners Lee, they basically created the entire foundations for the internet as we know it today.

[@trayambakrai]

Windows IIS, running on hardly any machine, full of vulnerabilities and terribly slow: *bruh*

[@ProcashFloyd]

He is the reason why internet is so accessible and really affordable to everyone in the world.

[@drygordspellweaver8761]

No he isn't. Richard Stallman is.

[@KovoriaTheConquerer]

@@drygordspellweaver8761 Their software completed each other, the Linux Kernel and GNU OS. Although I would credit Stallman for the philosophical movement in regards to free/ libre software.

[@MaxCE]

​@@drygordspellweaver8761 linux was what Richard stallman was waiting for and gnu was exactly what linux needed to have a head start

[@harishsinghbhoj9692]

Everyone praises Steve jobs but this man is a true legend.

[@hrgwea]

The actual legend is Richard Stallman who is the true inventor of the operating system most people refer to as "Linux". This operating system is actually called GNU. What Linus Torvalds created was a OS kernel, which is only one peace of the huge puzzle that an operating system is.

[@hrgwea]

@@joshuatharakan3687 It's not the main part at all measured by amount of code. Actually, there's no main part in an OS. It's like saying that an engine is the main part of a car. There's no main part in a car because each part is completely useless without the rest of the car. It's the same with an OS, there's no main part in an OS. If you remove one essential part, you don't have a functioning OS.

[@hrgwea]

@@joshuatharakan3687 You lost yourself there. The transmision is what connects the engine to the wheels. Without the transmission or the axles or the wheels, you don't have a functioning car. Without a heart you don't have a functioning body. No essential component in a system is more important than another. Without an essential component, the system doesn't work, period. Please stop arguing. Your vague concept of "most important part" is illusory. There's no such a thing.

[@hrgwea]

@@joshuatharakan3687 You are not even trying to discuss the subject of this comment thread. You've lost yourself in trying to defend your idea of "most important part".

[@noahbby3292]

facts .

[@anishtadev2678]

This guy is a saint. He built the best kernel in the world and made it free

[@spagootest2185]

kernel*

[@xianli8399]

and the git，so coool

[@richardlighthouse5328]

os != kernel

[@isaach.1135]

Linus made the kernel, not an "OS". GNU existed before the Linux kernel. It was a project to create an "OS" that was based on free software (not as price but as usage). The project was missing a kernel, a centeral way to manage the hardware and software. (Would look up definition of a kernel for better understanding). As a bad metaphor, Linus created the drive chain for a car that was already mostly built.

[@skeledin5858]

He really did revolutionize the industry and made it possible for everyone to experience the life of an IT professional, it's really cool.

[@byte_easel]

It really is insane how he created Git, the most used VCS system in the world used in every Silicon Valley tech company and wrote it HIMSELF... and made it free and open source.

[@TerrexoDesign]

In every company*

[@krasnoiark]

Especially because he had no other choice when it came to scaling. He dealt with merging code by EMAIL that is what impressed me. The guy creates stuff that is useful for him and gives it to other people if they need it too

[@bullshitman155]

and he did that just as an auxiliary project for easier management of the Linux kernel source code

[@Keima_Katsuragi.]

The idea behind Git is not that hard. As I remember he made the first version after 3 days

[@shobanchiddarth_old]

Bro said ATM Machine

[@pra9shinde]

This guy is a legend. He deserves Noble Prize

[@adamrezabek9469]

nobel prize for chemistry, becouse programming because programming is nothing else then combining some stuff together nobel prize for health, becouse he cured cancer of dos/windows nobel prize for physics, because linux is about breaking big chunks of code into small particles nobel prize for literature, because code is some sort of literature nobel prize for piece, because he solved Apple vs. Microsoft war Nobel prize for economy for proving that free can be better than expansive (it's not all accurate, it's just joke)

[@SpaceTimeBeing_]

He actually kinda deserves a nobel prize. There are a lot of crappy unworthy people who got a nobel prize, this man is on an entirely different league

[@DomT0311]

Yo he really does

[@betaman2009]

He'd probably refuse it

[@thecritiquer9407]

@@adamrezabek9469 I felt it accurate.

[@tarunlahrod]

"So git is my second big project which is only created to maintain my first big project." echo "This guy is truly an inspiration";

[@jaafer2385]

PUSH

[@gingerboi4303]

echo ''I started using kali a week ago and i catched that ahahah''

[@stebe8271]

This guy is truly an inspiration

[@Aganoify]

Amazing

[@charonstyxferryman]

I think there are a lot of people, who thinks like him : If I have a problem which a computer can solve, I tend to think: Maybe I should spend a few days to make this tool, which job I could do in a couple of minutes, and have to do it again and again an uncountable amount of times.

[@ojaschandgadkar1409]

Windows / Apple have customers Linux on other hand have fans. You are a real hero for every tech person!

[@Shanboss277]

No im pretty sure they have very intense fans as well lmao

[@alkaupadhyay7650]

@@Shanboss277 they are called apple fanboys and windows fan boys. Also Tux is here to stop your device heat up by working too hard to help cool the environment. While windows just straight up heat the house.

[@alkaupadhyay7650]

@@Shanboss277 looks like you dont wanna reply. But no prob with that

[@toriless]

Apple IS Linux! They tossed their crappy OS years ago. All they do is slap an Apple GUI over it.

[@marcs9451]

@@toriless it's not, Apple is a independent OS that borrows a lot from BSD, but it's not and never has been Linux based

[@chrisreich40]

I am impressed by his level of self-awareness and self-acceptance, as well as his acknowledgement that all different kinds of people have value.

[@anogoyadagaate8259]

100% Agree; its OK not to be a people person; even not to like people. The bar can be set lower and still result in a pleasant world. 'First, do no harm!'

[@converti76]

I am using Git, without having idea who this guy is. what a great surprise to meet this great man.

[@Moodboard39]

So u heard of Linux? But udk the founder lol wtf u live in a cave

[@Will-zg4ur]

He's like the Ghengis Khan of computers. A little bit of him in everyone's computer.

[@enkhnyambattulga9351]

my god

[@jimhalpert9803]

LMAO

[@sunnydaytodayy]

😂😂😂😂 * Blue screen error! *

[@vladandronik5711]

he's literally fucked the whole information world, u mean?

[@8bitoverclocking932]

Epic comment man!!

[@FourthDerivative]

"Don't get me wrong, I'm actually not a people person" We know, Linus. But we love you anyway

[@jimmyjordan5048]

Yeah

[@TheAlchemistDavid]

FourthDerivative How do I get into “Linux”, please? That’s why I’m watching this video. Refer a good book or video. I don’t even know to begin to get it. Do I have to purchase a computer with it or what? Please and thanks much.

[@stylepro]

@@TheAlchemistDavid nope, just install Ubuntu our Linux mint.

[@0xreflex]

Yeah and see his attitude he doesn't have any he can just cause a stop the whole world if he just took linux down

[@BetaChri5]

@@0xreflex he cant take linux down lel

[@eccentricOrange]

Anyone notice the difference in his confidence? The moment we have code on the slides, he switches from going through an interviewer and directly address the audience. Wonderful!

[@owenjones795]

Interviewer killed it too, this guy rules

[@polettix]

If they ever do a movie on Linus Torvalds, Steve Carell is going to nail it.

[@leviguerrag]

OMFG MAN, GOLD COMMENT HAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHA

[@AlqGo]

*spot on*

[@saultube44]

Oh yeah!

[@chrisbowen1987]

YES!

[@j1mmyZeta]

Ricky Gervais as the guy interviewing him here

[@csandreas1]

"I am not a visionary, i do not have a five year plan, i’m an engineer. I am perfectly fine with all the people who are walking around and just staring at the clouds and looking at the stars and say, i want to go there but i am looking at the ground and i want to fix the pot-hole that’s right in front of me before i fall in." -Linus Torvalds #LinusTorvalds #linux

[@laserquant]

This one is my favorite, too. 😆

[@muzkore]

csandreas1 One of my favorite. statements in the whole talk.

[@ElaineShi-cn]

csandreas1 those looking at the stars were called “philosopher”.

[@bimoguntur3440]

@@ElaineShi-cn or elon musk

[@pedrogonzalez5590]

-MICHAEL SCOTT

[@bekirkl4658]

He is the most humble person I've seen in years, such a simple personality full of passion and none of the greed, especially greed. I like how he says "I'm doing fine, and thats enough" when was asked about other people making worlds money with his contribution to technology. A man that cannot get corrupted by money is the thing people should get inspired by. I'd be honored to share a couple teas with him.

[@koli4213]

I keep seeing people say he is famously unhumble but I can’t really see any of that

[@cheeseman9511]

His kernel that he write at age 22 powered my phones, my travels laptop and many others absolutely amazing, thank you Linus Torvalds

[@zadeh79]

@ 17:08 "I’m perfectly happy with all the people who are walking around and just staring at the clouds and looking at the stars and saying, “I want to go there,” but I’m looking at the ground and I want to fix the pothole that’s right in front of me before I fall in. This is the kind of person I am" Aristotle gives his thanks.

[@RaginYak]

Word!!

[@KTRAY]

love that

[@shubhamsehgal2336]

He is doing work from home since the 90's

[@satishbamal8447]

Way ahead of the current time 😂😂

[@StreetSmrtNtrmt]

😂😂

[@jatinsw1128]

“I’m perfectly happy with people looking at the stars and saying ‘I want to go there’ but I’m an engineer. I’m looking at the ground and I want to fix the potholes right in front of me before I fall in” - Linus Torvaldes Although he said he’s not a people person like a zillion times, I feel I can listen to this genius all day

[@robertmaxa6631]

I've watched a few videos with Linus. What I appreciate, is he doesn't mince words, he says what's on his mind, and calls it as he sees it. He doesn't have to be "nice".

[@TheEddie581]

That just politely saying he is quite a nasty guy to work with. and that he is.

[@TheUltimateBlooper]

He doesn't need to be nice and, apparently, neither the OSes derived from his work... Explains the fucking mess of linux.

[@logictom7254]

​@@TheEddie581Ah yes, the usual hate speech based on nothing and that tries to put words in other’s mouths

[@vinaytanwar7840]

This man is so optimized... Doesn't move his jaw when he talk.. . . . .

[@yasirsaheed]

yeah, cz that's unnecessary loss of energy 😂

[@xTenzSlays]

Vinay Tanwar 😂😂😂😂

[@sketchur]

He's a born ventriloquist.

[@KingJellyfishII]

Ugh who has a jaw anyway? bloat

[@ALo_Imperator]

@@sketchur lol legend

[@muelleer]

"Don´t get me wrong, I actually do not like people"

[@TarebossT]

🤣🤣🤣

[@mvuselelo8917]

He words come difficult to autistic person - maybe he means I am uncomfortable with people - don't want them near me

[@bayuplay10]

Introvert

[@nadrile]

Mvuselelo Makhathini or maybe English is his third language. He’s translating to English with nuances ingrained in other languages and culture. One good example is translating any proverbs to other languages, there’s the cultural background to translate too, it might not possible be as a word by word translation to relay the whole context and meaning.

[@daniel4647]

@@nadrile Pretty sure he just meant that he doesn't like people, perfectly understandable if you ask me. Also, he's Finnish, I'm Norwegian, in Scandinavian countries it's common to just say what you mean without all the courtesy phrasing some English speaking countries use. If we say "I don't like people" that means we don't like people and are not looking to change our minds about it, very straight forward and uncomplicated. Linus has no problem with the language barrier as he's very used to communicating in English. So I think you guys are just picking up on the cultural difference that we tend to think courtesy phrasing and polite small talk is dishonest and therefore the opposite of courteous, if you don't like us and don't want to talk to us we want you to tell us and not pretend like you do and waste our time.

[@samgray49]

What is amazing is my dad has worked with Linus Torvalds on a lot of the Linux and Git Projects. I mean half of the Suse Code is by my dad as he worked with the group on the original ideas.

[@bekirkl4658]

How would your dad describe him? Is he the humblest guy i think or is it true that when Linus says "sometimes I'm not a nice person" ? Is he any frustrating to talk or work with?

[@maxfpsoffset]

thank your dad for helping provide to such a amazing project !

[@binku09]

damn you have Linux in your blood...

[@jesseclutterbuck6617]

big thank you to your dad.

[@karimmanaouil7278]

Who is your dad? (just out of curiosity)

[@user-qg5bl2kt7u]

It's really interesting how Linus realized that, even being a strongly self-centered introvert, his projects could only grow up if he let other people join in. No matter how good you are at something, even if you're a genius: you'll need a lot of other people to make things work. I've seen this myself throughout life. Many of friends are brilliant in what they do, but not exceptionally recognized for that, professionally and financially speaking. On the other hand, the most successeful people are usually the ones who know how to deal with others and make them work together. Nowadays we're taught to work hard on ourselves, study overnight, acquire knowledge, learn loads of stuff, practice everyday and be as individually productive as humanly possible. But I hardly see anybody talking about how important it is to build relationships, be in touch with your team, find ways to cooperate and help each other. And Linus's example here is that it doesn't even mean you have to be an outgoing person or even be friends with anybody: you can find your own way to deal with that. Amazing interview!

[@caleb7799]

lol come on man! you can't change a true introvert into a social butterfly. They will only put up with others for so long until they will get exhausted.

[@dmitripogosian5084]

@@caleb7799 But good ones can delegate tasks they are not interested in

[@Moodboard39]

People are Annoy

[@Moodboard39]

U trust everyone? Dude, get out of here

[@cmdrtianyilin8107]

This guy was so pissed off by Microsoft and Apple, he made his own operating system. Madlad level 100.

[@goochcatcher]

Linux is not an operating system

[@Tornn222]

@@goochcatcher please elaborate.

[@tymehagenbeek5129]

@@Tornn222 Linux is a kernel

[@OlaFosheimGrstad]

No, he made Linux because MInix wasn't free.

[@RP-kr2mg]

@@OlaFosheimGrstad He made it because he didn't believe in few companies controlling everything!

[@GreenHatPIrate]

He hates giving talks but he's so good at it.

[@mrmotofy]

Agreed, many types the geeks are true antisocial inept personalities. But he's not at all. He's very knowledgeable in a lot of areas

[@MrYungilike]

He hates giving talks and that's why he's so good at it.

[@ih8tusernam3s]

He hates practically everything.

[@phillipekonamoudjan1752]

what is funny that linus only wrote the core of linux everything else as been written by the members of the opensource community. That does makes linus a genious at all ... That does not prooves that linus have a programming talent ... That only prooves that he as been strategically and commercially present to aggretate the talent of guys in the opensource community who wrote the LINUX. Linux is not the product of linux torvalds, linux is the product of somes genious in this opensource community ! So lets put some justice here !

[@spaceowl5957]

I learned git a month ago and I love it. It’s incredibly robust and well designed.

[@derrylab]

"I am not a visionary people. I do not have a five-year plan. I am an engineer. I am perfectly happy with all the people walking around, staring at the clouds, and looking at the stars, saying "I want to go there". But I am looking at the ground and I want to fix the pothole that's right in front of me before I fall in. This is the kind of person I am."

[@eroliron]

He is a pure programmer. He is not a marketer like Steve Jobs, Mark Zuckerberg or Bill Gates. Never forget that marketers are not the ones who change the world in a positive way. Thank you so much for the wonderful legacy you left to the world.

[@valen8560]

"If I was stranded on an island and the only way to get out is making a pretty UI. I would die there", Same and True.

[@ekremdincel1505]

Lol yes

[@LeslieLanagan]

Not a coder- barely have handle on HTML, XML and CSS- nearly fell out of my desk chair laughing.

[@eE-nc6jj]

Nuno Pinheiro would get out instantly

[@NourArt02]

Notice how he just walks away in the end when the crowd give him a standing ovation, shows how much he's not interested in glory

[@hds66nl29]

He was probable thinking: "Glad that is over"

[@georgerabus9314]

@@hds66nl29 lol

[@sorae42]

literally every non-people person

[@anewmanvs]

There is no way to hate Linus even though he has yelled at us so many times in forums because que asked something silly. This guy is a living fucking legend and should get much more attention for everything his work has allowed us to achieve.

[@TheTruthKiwi]

I would feel honored to be yelled at by Linus. 😁

[@dacueba-games]

The fact that he's in the forums at all screaming at people is already lovely. He could have retired, gone filthy rich etc.

[@TheTruthKiwi]

@@dacueba-games He could easily just create his own optimized distro charge a sub for it and make a fortune. He wouldn't even have to charge much.

[@Shirley-by4ty]

Man...that was brutal! especially at the end where’s he’s like, “well you’re not a visionary so you can’t decide”

[@andrewsquest8901]

Timestamps: 00:13 - on Linux world headquoters (about organisation of calm workspace) 02:15 - on open-source (getting reviews of your code; interacring with other people) 06:08 - how Linux became a huge project 07:12 - role of Linus in Git 09:09 - Linus' character 14:18 - good taste in coding (rewriting programs to remove special cases) 16:39 - "I am not visionary, I am an engineer" 17:25 - on Tesla vs Edisson 18:50 - on why Linus doesn't bother, about other companies making millions of dollars 19:30 - about if Open-source idea fully realised in the world

[@kbjosekiller]

Thank you man, the developer is a fucking genius, but he can't express himself very fluently as the interviewer does. And since I'm not a native speaker this timelapse helps me to get the idea of the interview

[@Rohit-gc3kd]

Thanks!!!!!!

[@karl711]

Thank you

[@toriless]

Can I headquote you from my headquarters? Is interacring what farmers do to their land?

[@NicoVillanueva]

thanks for this man!

[@uzirosen6767]

This guy has an exceptional integrity. An inspiration for those who are fed up with those arrogant, self-marketing, fake personality people.

[@simoxu3286]

"Not all heroes wear capes", this guy is a superhero in the software world

[@nirv]

He wears a bathrobe

[@ImHeadshotSniper]

literally where would we be without this guy? i couldn't even imagine how massively different things would be.

[@IPear]

I want this man live 1000 years, the world needs him.

[@TheUltimateBlooper]

Servers* need him. Normal people like other things, like "UI" and "things working out of the box"...the little luxuries :)

[@IPear]

@@TheUltimateBlooper ahahhaahah

[@ta_pegandofogo2988]

@@TheUltimateBlooper and normal people use what to connect between them?

[@TheZeroAssassin]

He looks so uncomfortable out in public, yet sticks it out make a great and inspiring talk. And you could tell he'd rather be anywhere than talking in public right now. I recall that feeling. Still a legend

[@sonicdagreat426]

Interviewer shouldn't really say he's stubborn. He has perseverance, grit and and unmatched passion for his work.

[@vipergx]

Today I learned his name. Forever it will be engraved in my memory. He is a legend, a mostly unknown legend.

[@polymorphicprocrastination5345]

I agree but probably don't judge too early

[@gaggi123]

"I don't really like other people." - This is the most finnish thing he could have said :D plus he works in IT ^^

[@bdf2718]

If you work in IT support you rapidly come to hate both computers and people.

[@gaggi123]

bdf2718 Yes, I can agree!

[@Tuleele]

The most common computer problem is between the monitor and the chair...

[@armelfrancois7009]

Jonathan De Jesus do you mean the desk?

[@Tuleele]

The user...

[@MyAce8]

Linus brings up a point that I wish more people trying to get into programming miss, which is that the best way to make something great is to make something that is useful to you, that you need, if there is something you wish your computer could do then make that.

[@akilumanga]

+Ace shinigami This is true to pretty much any breakthrough business.

[@mortenrobinson]

I wish my computer could fly to Mars and teleport me there ;-) What programming languages should i start learning to make that?

[@iansmith5009]

Python and learn math. We need applied math to do what you said. There is also Kip Thorne's method, but that's expensive.

[@darltrash]

@@mortenrobinson Yeah you can, Maybe if you learn a lot and waste millions making that, you will can make that

[@LeslieLanagan]

As Anne Lamott said, "write the book you need to read."

[@Lexyvil]

I recently got into Linux in my computer systems engineering program. Understanding what it finally is and hearing the developer himself talk about it is amazing.

[@montugohain48]

Real Legend in Software industry , I couldn't image the web without Linux running on the servers, and the most used piece of technology in Software engineering , i.e, Git also originally authorized by this man.

[@tensevo]

Linux is great, Git is fantastic, Linus is the man.

[@rawriclark]

The man who hates other people brought people closer together, just think about that.

[@arm-pr2ki]

but his intention was not that... and even he did not want that as well... it happened somehow!! due to some "commercial people"

[@tmcode2010]

Well, you can say it was a bug then became main feature

[@sevos6359]

@@tmcode2010 lmao

[@danielperico2806]

@@tmcode2010 Nailed it!

[@jerome_g]

To me, I remember him saying: "I don't really like other people" which has a different meaning than what you wrote. And I believe his real words make your statement more powerful.

[@bobbogenie7235]

This man truly inspired millions of people in the world and changed the lives of billions. Im sure even after 10.000 years later, he will be remembered for what he did for the world.

[@nafisasabah4051]

I really liked how he said that the building-up of the project wasn't people contributing code, but ideas. It is one thing to slap a wall of code text and expect everyone to deconstruct it line by line, method by method, package by package. It is another thing to post, "Wait, what if we added this __" and then demonstrate it using a diagram and supplementary code, if necessary and ready. It introduces tools and strategies in a higher-level point of view that actually stimulates collaboration and idea-sharing.

[@krishnaKavoor]

The real boss.linus should be given Nobel prize..for his contribution

[@kenmeade9924]

no really just no...

[@christchalmers2919]

Yes I agree that Linus should get a Nobel prize. He is headstrong, yet selfless! He designs much better software than I thought! The example in this TED talk of bad code vs good code, totally makes sense. The if statement just makes the code more complex with extra processing and not enough documentation! The good code, the one he said had good taste, was much harder to envision but much more elegant and simplified which would reduce the processing, of the CPU, maybe to 50% to 75% of the processing time. And it had much better documentation! Linus's interview on TED talks, this video, makes me very much want to use Linux as my primary software! I want to know which Linux Distro he uses, and which one he recommends! I've used Linux before, from 2008 to 2012. Ubuntu. But when Debian incorporated FreeBSD Software I did not want to be with Debian based Distros anymore. I still don't want to be with FreeBSD Related software because it has a Demon as it's mascot, and that Daemon looks like a young devil. Which I totally do not like at all. I want to be with Heaven On Earth, and God, and Jesus, and Angels, not the devil. Which makes me wonder why there are Daemons in the Linux Distros. Could Linus and a dedicated group engineer those Demons into Angels instead, if they are good demons? Please let me know? And hopefully Linus will read this comment someday! He is a great man who gave away his possible copyright to allow for Free and Open Source software! Thank-you very much Linus! Christ Chalmers 2019 April 4 Thursday 6:14pm.

[@raula.6072]

Damn right

[@sidrockx95]

@@christchalmers2919 Damn! The way you connected that is beautiful! More power to Angels xD

[@estebanmendiola9364]

Nobel prize, really? There is no a Nobel prize to something like technology or programming. What he should be given, probably, is the Turing Prize.

[@jred7]

I realized about halfway through the necessity of this being an interview as opposed to a talk. I'm really impressed by this guys mind.

[@jred7]

***** Well get over yourself. Did you come here to hear Linus, or troll for comments?

[@beatemprod]

its Linus...he hates media and exposure...if he wasn't asked questions he will not even talk hhh... not a people person as he kept sayin

[@ptcarino]

I think Linus does public speaking well on interviews rather than talks. Now that I think about it, I haven't watched a video of him giving a talk yet. Either way, hearing Linus' opinions is valuable in itself.

[@uspowerbase]

What mind? He Just Wrote it Out of the Language! Making CODE Profanity!

[@PKM1010]

It's kinda amazing that "not a people person" made an OS for the people, not for profit.

[@QuaziAshfaqurRahman]

My goodness! The pointer operations in the 2nd example are just mind-blowing!!

[@raula.6072]

"There are even people who name their companies after him" Killed me 😂😂

[@toriless]

Yes, Mr batteries.

[@sharad104b]

Micro and soft mr bill gates p*n*s 😂

[@sandeepvk]

While we harp about Steve Job and Elon Musk, its people like Linus Trovald whose work will really impact the world in the long run....

[@fmartin59]

Uhh how? No steve means no popularization of GUI. No PC domination.

[@dragonvarine7553]

@@fmartin59 Wrong. Steve jobs did no coding. Steve wozniak is the engineer behind apple.

[@Lime-ne3fd]

Just like Linus implied, different types of people are necessary. Both Wozniak and Jobs were necessary to make Apple a success because they both had skills that helped the company grow. We should not put people below other people just because we value their work less

[@fmartin59]

Dragonvarine Did you ever read the book? Jobs was pretty important for the first GUI iteration. He may not have done coding work on it at that time, but why is that relev?

[@AbdulKarim-fs5iw]

Amen

[@antonydecosta6262]

Worked with the Linux development programme for 16 yrs I'm happy where linux is today. This guy will be always inspiration for open source community.

[@stanislavidalgo3661]

The interesting thing is, that this man changed the I.T world forever(for the better obviously), and yet very few people know who he is, but everybody knows Jobs (no disrespect, also a genius) who technically didn't create anything :D

[@funny-video-YouTube-channel]

He is the hero of our time ! Many IT fathers name their kids after him.

[@JR-mk6ow]

What? I'm going to name my kid Intel or Nvidia

[@HaakonHawk]

Joao Rocha - If i were your neighbor i'd call my kid AMD just to see how that relationship turns out.

[@lammiles5348]

Just don't name him/her Vista

[@yalsonnoorcahayapratama3775]

you should name your kid with Newell or Valve? . . . . . for get UNLIMITED FREE STEAM WALLET XD

[@musasamwel8250]

Which name do they name the children most, Linus or Torvalds?

[@aaroncaralho2599]

The first guy to not hold an imaginary box on TED

[@feather8814]

I think that he was referring about the ideas behind the people who went in Ted. Most of them are utopias.

[@sneakeyboard8305]

could mean multiple tings. I'm guessing the "anti-visionary" perspective. However, you could also be talking about not giving speeches with their hands... hahahaha.

[@Elfcheg]

You mean jam jar?

[@mikecrapse5285]

Inname Of no, he's referring to the mannerisms many public speakers do. namely throw forth both their hands as if they are holding a box

[@killax1000]

Cannot unsee! Thank you.

[@dhrubajitchakravarty54]

i am now just in love with Linux and Linus. I am very much inspired from u sir. Love From India.

[@kafelinux]

working with linux since 1999, thank Linus.. you are amazing ❤️❤️❤️

[@AI-ec2qb]

Rumor has it that Bill Gates has nightmares with Linus and an army of penguins.

[@shamikpal4449]

and those penguins capture him, gave him an apple to eat, leaving him stranded in a, wait for it, a windowless room..

[@excaliber2845]

@@shamikpal4449 take my like r/angryupvote

[@binhtang4967]

"So git is my second big project which is only created to maintain my first big project." echo "This guy is truly an inspiration";

[@nensysilvi]

And Putin as well

[@bobspacon]

That’s literally my wallpaper. Linux is just so amazing and fun for some reason

[@ryanbray7812]

And yet most companies now think software engineers should work in an open collaborative environment surrounded by noise and distractions.

[@mduckernz]

Ryan Bray Yes - this too is a myopia, but of the mind; assuming that others do or should think the same way you do, and to do otherwise is a problem or even a disease/malfunction.

[@soutpielsanchez1574]

+Ryan Bray - This really id the dumbest paradigm shift given that programming is dominated by introverts (and for good reason).

[@russellabraham9208]

wartime

[@leoerdos8414]

All developers are different. You might prefer to work alone in a quiet environment while some other developers would prefer working in a crowded environment full of innovation and ideas.

[@donkey7921]

Ryan Bray humans are social animals, most humans work better with others, Linus, you, me, and many others might not work well with others, but most people do!

[@tanker7757]

I love how he embodies the stereotype of a nerd he’s bad at expressing him self but a genius that is able to do anything

[@udaypradhan4647]

This video somehow makes me aim higher in life. Thank you, Mr. Torvalds!

[@rock3tcatU233]

Webservers, supercomputers, industrial robotics, driverless cars, smartphones, stock exchanges (NASDAQ/NYSE/CMX/DBG), the international space station, etc. are all running some form of the Linux kernel. A Finnish nerd has taken over the world.

[@hanro50]

ⵔⵓⴽⴰⵜⴽⴰⵜ That is the strangest sentence I've read in my life

[@headcrab4090]

Unix kernel.

[@EldunMcLayan]

You're absolutely right. If the companies would only go for the most advanced and technical superior product, the chances are high that most of them would be made proprietary. But they don't, the care about the software being free, alowing them to openly coloborate, adjust things as they need it and share their achievements with others. Being Free is the most important attribute in nowaday's UNIX world. Richard Stallman did important work for the community to realize that.

[@LetsBeHuman]

And trump want to send back all international people back to their homes. hmm, let me think.

[@reonero958]

Wow

[@DataSmithy]

What a brilliant idea to have a really smart interviewer to prompt and moderate the usually reticent Linus Torvald. It brought out some different aspects of his personality, and where he's coming from, and made it quite enjoyable to listen to him without his ego getting so much in the way. I came away from this TED Talk appreciating much more Torvalds contributions to the world as it is today.

[@nylarnameless1759]

Linus is probably the most influential single person in the world today, to the daily life of each one of those people. At the same time easily the humblest person I've ever seen. It's obvious that his work makes up more of his personality and identity than anything else even comes close. As Dalai Lama is a political ideology running on the platform of a human being, Linus is a System Management Tool. With open source he has even created a platform to ensure his immortality. In that breath it's important that we steward his legacy carefully and faithfully.

[@jonjon5997]

The most underrated tech person in the era of computer.

[@pranadpdh4043]

My 7+ year old laptop still works in a descent manner just because of Linux OS. Thank you so much for developing something that helps many. Especially for those who can't afford super computing specs.

[@dmitripogosian5084]

My desktop is from 2007, so 16 years old. And still runs fully updated Gentoo

[@dean-543]

2011, xubuntu.

[@dacueba-games]

I'd just like to interject for a moment. What you're refering to as Linux, is in fact, GNU/Linux, or as I've recently taken to calling it, GNU plus Linux. Linux is not an operating system unto itself, but rather another free component of a fully functioning GNU system made useful by the GNU corelibs, shell utilities and vital system components comprising a full OS as defined by POSIX. Many computer users run a modified version of the GNU system every day, without realizing it. Through a peculiar turn of events, the version of GNU which is widely used today is often called Linux, and many of its users are not aware that it is basically the GNU system, developed by the GNU Project. There really is a Linux, and these people are using it, but it is just a part of the system they use. Linux is the kernel: the program in the system that allocates the machine's resources to the other programs that you run. The kernel is an essential part of an operating system, but useless by itself; it can only function in the context of a complete operating system. Linux is normally used in combination with the GNU operating system: the whole system is basically GNU with Linux added, or GNU/Linux. All the so-called Linux distributions are really distributions of GNU/Linux!

[@vinaypandey9303]

his work is oxygen to lots of IT professional, Governments, and Companies

[@manavmohata1240]

@john doe actually carbon dioxide is not poisonous. Carbon monoxide is. Carbon dioxide just acts as a greenhouse gas causing global warming.

[@abbiearcher4716]

Linus Torvalds is so introverted his introversion led him to create the world's most influential Operating System and git.

[@prabhatakumarsahu6825]

Great talk one of the best, really love the legendary discussion

[@mistybeats1368]

“I’m perfectly happy with the people that walk around and look at clouds and the stars and say “I want to be there”, but I’m the one that’s looking at the ground and thinking “I’m going to fix that pot hole” So much to be learned from Linus, amazing.

[@Gukslaven]

Can I just say that git is one of the best, most ingenious pieces of software ever written.

[@aegisgfx]

Ya but working with it is like smashing your nuts with a hammer and then jumping up and down on them

[@taybroski5718]

Only sometimes........

[@zauxst]

@@aegisgfx nope. Git is fine. Much better than the alternatives. This is the only reason why it is widely adopted....

[@mathiashls]

Yes sir, you totally can.

[@JoeLinux2000]

@@aegisgfx, for the end user it's not nearly as bad as WinDO$.

[@aravinth.k]

Can't believe such an introverted person created Git, the ultimate collaboration tool in IT.

[@NoobTube4148]

This man deserves some sort of award. In fact, a whole category of award should be created for this type of selfless work. Or is there already something like that?

[@Sicaoisdead]

Not many people within the world of technology nowadays who act as utterly selfless as Linus, huge credit to the guy. If everybody could work like this we'd be superhumans in no time.

[@mircopaul5259]

The people we hear about are rarely true tech people themselves. Musk, Gates, Jobs, ... They are all businessmen! Maybe businessmen with some education and experience in a tech related field, but not one of them got rich because he did significant work at the technical level himself

[@ManicBard]

How refreshing to hear someone speak with honesty. Just imagine certain other well-known people doing that? Great talk...

[@triplekillerable]

He is a silent guardian, a watchful protector "The Dark Knight" of Computers

[@RadityaNugraheni2405]

He's the hero we deserve, the hero we need right now.

[@arjednb]

Chris Anderson is the perfect match for Linus, there couldn't have been any better interviewer, hands down.

[@PotatoBearRawr]

That guy is absolutely awesome! So great that you do not just show off the flashy extroverts with fancy presentations, but also have a man that makes calling yourself a nerd a badge of honour. And just how he uses an example of actually code (makes no sense to me), instead of only making sure that everyone in the word can understand it, makes me even more want to learn to code (when I have the time...). Thank you.

[@ElectricChaplain]

The second linked list remove() implementation can be understood with a good grasp of pointers and referencing and dereferencing operators. & is the reference operator and gives you the address (pointer) to a variable in RAM, * is the dereference operator which reverses the process and accesses the data in a pointer. The beauty of the 2nd implementation is that it recognizes that the pointer to the head and the variable holding that pointer are one in the same and a change in data in one will change the data in the other, and thus there is no need to check if it's the head.

[@GhostkillerPlaysMC]

"I can't do UI to save my life" . . . It all makes sense

[@burakayan3360]

What is ui?

[@ComplexAce]

Now we know

[@GhostkillerPlaysMC]

@@burakayan3360 user interface

[@hpsmash77]

😂

[@fruitshishkabob]

this is so funny

[@eccentricOrange]

I loved this talk, and felt I relate to a lot. Way to go Linus-stick to what works, and build what you want to build

[@bunnyff-kl8px]

Where did he say that

[@maya_unplugged]

As a formal „Computer-Legasthenic“ on Pill Gates device for decades, since one year I‘m proud to announce that I’m comfortable on using Linux Cinnamon Mont very well. 🤩 Thank you sooo much 💐

[@ziggytonumaa]

"every single project I've ever coded has been something I needed"

[@TotallySD]

"code either works or it doesn't". -- Someone who never did CSS before

[@17plus9]

xD

[@CrimsonHelldrake]

it doesn't work UNTIL you work at it enough to get it to work; by then you will have your much deserved smirk!

[@HercoVanDyk]

That was a beautiful poem... :')

[@CrimsonHelldrake]

Herco - Enduro haha thanks

[@yasharpm]

That's because CSS is not code!

[@bernardobuffa2391]

Kind of paradox to me.. he defines himself as not 'people's people' but at the same time it sounds so human and sincere. We owe him so much. Thx!

[@foketesz]

Maybe my fav TED ever. Such a genius... It is a real privilege being alive at the same time as this kind of people.

[@suheti]

I sort of can feel how hard it was for Tovalds to explain his ideas while avoiding all technical jargons XD He just couldn't express himself fully coz the audience of TED talks need to be general.

[@Jan-vw5cg]

it's not so much about the audience and more about Linus not liking people so he doesn't interact/express his ideas well with people

[@011azr]

+Janiel Martell I think he's a better public speaker than, let's say, Elon Musk. But both of those people are great nonetheless. I'd rather have them both to change every of our politician. They'll make much more useful difference in our world.

[@Jan-vw5cg]

+011azr But with Elon Musk there's a language barrier.

[@011azr]

Janiel Martell What? Elon was born in South Africa and that country speak English FFS! Meanwhile this guy was born in Finland in which its language is NOT even close to any other Indo-European language.

[@Jan-vw5cg]

+011azr Yeah but his english isn't as good (that's what I meant)

[@nevinzavell4207]

This man is one of my personal heroes.

[@PassionGallery]

+Nevin Zavell Along with Linus Torvalds, also from Finland is Jarkko Oikarinen; the creator of IRC.

[@hanss3147]

Nevin Zavell There's also an 85% chance he hates your code

[@nevinzavell4207]

Hans S More then 85% mate.

[@jimstone3933]

Me too

[@MichaelChavezsf]

I don't care how much of people person he is, I'd still give him a hug if I saw home in person.

[@chummidixit6433]

He is much more humble and greater than Edison I feel. He somehow had courage to acknowledge and respect both without degrading Tesla or Edison, and boldly said he is more like Edison, without caring about people...

[@ArabianKnight63]

A hero we didn't know we needed but he did it for us.

[@doingtime20]

This man is real, he is sincere, when some big tech CEO speaks he just spouts marketing bs "we aim to bring people together", "we care", etc. Linus on the other hand is a real human without hidden agendas to grab more money for himself, he just goes "well I love people, but not in that way...I mean I'm not a people person...I like to program in in my bathrobe..." etc. he is just speaking his heart, saying what he loves to do, what he is and what he is not. He is not constantly scheming on how to have more money or be more powerful etc.