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​Linus Torvalds takes a break from Linux

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Linux

In a surprising move, Linus Torvalds, Linux's creator, is taking a break on his Linux kernel work to work on his behavior to other developers. In a note to the Linux Kernel Mailing List (LKML), Torvalds wrote, "I need to change some of my behavior, and I want to apologize to the people that my personal behavior hurt and possibly drove away from kernel development entirely."

If you follow the trials and tribulations of Linux's developments, this is mind-blowing. For the almost 30-years Torvalds has been working on the kernel, he's been famous--or infamous--for his outbursts towards programmers and others who didn't meet his high expectations.

Over the decades, Torvalds has torn into security developers, open-source lawyers, and other kernel developers, such as Sage, formerly Sarah, Sharp. Every few months, there would be another four-letter Torvalds eruption. This became publicly accepted, but privately it left bad blood.

Read more

Torvalds breaks with past, apologises for abrasive behaviour

  • Torvalds breaks with past, apologises for abrasive behaviour

    Linux creator Linus Torvalds has made an uncharacteristic admission that he needs to change the way he interacts with people on the Linux kernel mailing list and says he will take some time off and get assistance "on how to understand people’s emotions and respond appropriately".

    Torvalds's confession was part of a long email which he sent about the latest kernel release and how his inability to manage his schedule had led to him being his usual explosive self.

Wouter Verhelst: Linus apologising

  • Wouter Verhelst: Linus apologising

    To me, this came somewhat as a surprise. I'm not really involved in Linux kernel development, and so the history of what led up to this email mostly passed unnoticed, at least for me; but that doesn't mean I cannot recognize how difficult this must have been to write for him.

    As I know from experience, admitting that you have made a mistake is hard. Admitting that you have been making the same mistake over and over again is even harder. Doing so publically? Even more so, since you're placing yourself in a vulnerable position, one that the less honorably inclined will take advantage of if you're not careful.

A lot of press coverage

When all you get for apologising is the media calling you "dick"

When you apologise and headlines label you an "asshole"

Linux Adopts A New Code Of Conduct

  • Linux Adopts A New Code Of Conduct

    Even though the fundamental nature of open source projects is being open and accessible to all, many contributors, in the past, have expressed their concerns over the unwelcoming nature of some communities. Linux, the most successful open source project, isn’t untouched by the same.

    The Linux Boss, Linus Torvalds, is himself known to get often involved in heated discussions and say things that he shouldn’t. Just recently, he announced that he’d be taking a breaking from Linux and working to change his behavior. That’s not all. To make Linux development a more welcoming community, a new “Code of Conduct” has been adopted.

  • Torvalds Steps Back From Linux Kernel 4.19 Leadership

Linux Community to Adopt New Code of Conduct

Ben Cotton (Red Hat) on Torvalds and the CoC

  • Linus’s awakening

    I understand Kelly’s position. It’s frustrating to push for a more welcoming and inclusive community only to be met with insults and then when someone finally comes around to have everyone celebrate. Kelly and others who feel like her are absolutely justified in their position.

    For myself, I like to think of it as a modern parable of the prodigal son. As tempting as it is to reject those who awaken late, it is better than them not waking at all. If Linus fails to follow through, it would be right to excoriate him. But if he does follow through, it can only improve the community around one of the most important open source projects. And it will set an example for other projects to follow.

    I spend a lot of time thinking about community, particularly since I joined Red Hat as the Fedora Program Manager a few months ago. Community members — especially those in a highly-visible role — have an obligation to model the kind of behavior the community needs. This sometimes means a patient explanation when an angry rant would feel better. It can be demanding and time-consuming work. But an open source project is more than just the code; it’s also the community. We make technology to serve the people, so if our communities are not healthy, we’re not doing our jobs.

Linus Torvalds is doing a good and brave thing

  • ​Linus Torvalds is doing a good and brave thing

    Linus Torvalds is known for his "salty" language and take-no-prisoners approach to Linux developers. If you get things wrong, he's not afraid to let you know -- in no uncertain terms -- that you're an idiot. It gets results, but it also drives away many talented developers and leads to a development culture where harsh attacks are tolerated and even approved of by some.

    But Torvalds realized he was hurting both the development process and his fellow programmers. So, he announced he's stepping away from the Linux developer community to change his personal behavior. Torvalds also approved a new "Code of Conduct" for Linux kernel developers. No one would have expected to see either of these changes.

Linux Has a Code of Conduct and Not Everyone is Happy With it

  • Linux Has a Code of Conduct and Not Everyone is Happy With it

    The code of conduct was signed off by Linus Torvalds and Greg Kroah-Hartman (kind of second-in-command after Torvalds). Dan Williams of Intel and Chris Mason from Facebook were some of the other signees.

    If I have read through the timeline correctly, half an hour after signing this code of conduct, Torvalds sent a mail apologizing for his past behavior. He also announced taking a temporary break to improve upon his behavior.

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