Reading 11: Linus's Linux

  Linux is most definitely a perfect example of open source operating at its maximum capabilities. When an incredibly gifted programmer is paired with a benevolent community, revolution happens. As I reflect on all of the readings from this class, it is definitely easy to see how the bazaar-style hacking community culminated with the creation of Linux. When we look back to the early ideologies of the Model Railway club, open source was baked into their culture. And while Linus and Linus are several generations removed from the original hackers, and open source has become a different beast, you can still see the impact of the original hackers. 

If we take a deep dive into Linux, on the surface level it looks like a perfect storm of good fortune and luck gave birth to the operating system. However, if books like Freakonomics and Outliers ever taught me anything (I think I’ve referenced these books in maybe half of my blog posts), it is to look a little deeper into anomalies. I’ll start with the claim that Linux is a perfect reflection of Linus Torvalds. In a way, Linux is Linus Torvalds. Linus’s robust understanding of computers, coupled with his interest in undertaking extreme projects “just for fun,” as well as several other key personality traits (willingness to adopt open source; also his dictator-style presence) are a unique combination of attributes that allowed him to create Linux. While I constantly mention Outliers, there are two chapters in the book about Bill Gates and Bill Joy, respectively. In a previous blog I’ve talked about how Gates, despite being incredibly intelligent, was gifted with an almost extremely unique upbringing where he had exclusive access to a powerful computer, as well as wealthy parents. Outliers also talks about Bill Joy, who also had exclusive access to a powerful computer cluster at the University of Michigan, which played a large role in his success in the technology industry.

I bring these two examples up because I want to contrast them with Linus’s upbringing. While Linus definitely shares some characteristics with the two Bill’s (access to a computer, wealthy family), from what I understand, Linus did everything behind a computer that anyone could have bought. So while the two Bill’s had incredibly unique stories that put them in the position to succeed, Linus’s success was less about the environment he was raised in and more so his individual capabilities and characteristics. I’ll add on that I do not mean to detract from the success of Gates and Joy, but rather I want to point out that Linux’s success is something that could have been done by everyone, not just people in a particular position. And all of this is to say that if there exists another Linus Torvalds, there can definitely be another open source success story like Linux. Especially as we move forward into an age where AI can give almost anyone the power to create powerful technology, and the open source community will always be there to support development.

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