Linus Torvalds facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Linus Torvalds
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Linus Torvalds in 2018
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Linus Benedict Torvalds
28 December 1969 Helsinki, Finland
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| Alma mater | University of Helsinki (M.S.) |
| Occupation | Software engineer |
| Employer | Linux Foundation |
| Known for | Linux, Git |
| Spouse(s) | Tove Torvalds |
| Children | 3 |
| Parent(s) | Nils Torvalds (father) Anna "Mikke" Torvalds (née Törnqvist, mother) |
| Relatives | Sara Torvalds (sister) Leo Törnqvist (grandfather) Ole Torvalds (grandfather) |
Linus Torvalds (born December 28, 1969) is a computer expert from Finland. He is famous for creating the Linux kernel, which is a very important part of the operating system used in many computers and devices. He also created Git, a tool that helps many people work on computer code together.
Linus Torvalds received the 2012 Millennium Technology Prize. This award recognized his work on the open source Linux kernel. He also won the 2014 Computer Pioneer Award and the 2018 IEEE Masaru Ibuka Consumer Electronics Award.
Contents
Linus Torvalds' Life and Career
His Early Life and Computer Interest
Linus Torvalds was born in Helsinki, Finland, in 1969. His parents were journalists. His family speaks Swedish, which is a minority language in Finland. He was named after Linus Pauling, a famous chemist. He also joked he was named after Linus from the Peanuts cartoon.
His interest in computers started when he was 11 years old. He got a VIC-20 computer in 1981. He began by programming in BASIC. Later, he learned to program the computer's main chip directly. He then bought a Sinclair QL computer. He changed its operating system a lot. Since it was hard to find software in Finland, he wrote his own programs. He even made his own version of the game Pac-Man called Cool Man.
Linus studied at the University of Helsinki from 1988 to 1996. He earned a master's degree in computer science. During his studies, he learned about Unix, a type of operating system. He also read a book about MINIX, which was a simpler version of Unix for learning.
In 1989, Linus took a break from university to do his mandatory military service in the Finnish Navy. He served for 11 months and became a second lieutenant.
Creating Linux
In 1991, Linus bought a new computer. This computer helped him start working on what would become Linux. The first versions of Linux were shared online in late 1991. Version 1.0 was officially released in 1994.
Linus learned about the GNU Project and free software in 1991. Because of this, he decided to change the license for his Linux kernel. He chose the GNU General Public License (GPLv2). This license allows people to use, change, and share the software freely.
After finishing university, Linus moved to California in 1997. He worked for a company called Transmeta. In 2003, he joined the Open Source Development Labs. This organization later became the Linux Foundation. He still works there, focusing on improving Linux. In 2004, he moved with his family to Oregon.
In 1999, Linus was recognized as one of the top 100 innovators under age 35. Companies like Red Hat and VA Linux gave him stock options to thank him for creating Linux.
Linus's personal mascot is a penguin named Tux. This penguin has become the official mascot for the Linux kernel.
Linus believes that "open source is the only right way to do software." This means that the computer code should be available for everyone to see and use. He uses the best tools for his work, even if they are not open source. He once used a program called BitKeeper for managing code. Later, he created his own free and open-source replacement for it, called Git.
Linus uses the Fedora Linux operating system. He once stopped using GNOME, a desktop environment, because he felt it was too hard to use. He switched to Xfce but later returned to GNOME when it improved.
The Linux Foundation supports Linus so he can work full-time on Linux. Linus is known for being very direct when he talks about technical issues with other developers. In 2018, he apologized for his past behavior. He said his personal attacks were "unprofessional." He took some time off to learn how to understand people's emotions better. After a break, he returned to leading the Linux kernel development.
How Linux Got Its Name
Linus first wanted to call his new operating system Freax. This name combined "free," "freak," and "X" (to show it was like Unix). But his friend, Ari Lemmke, hosted the kernel on a server. Ari named Linus's directory linux. This name stuck!
Linus's Role and the Linux Trademark
Linus Torvalds wrote about 2% of the Linux kernel himself. Even though thousands of people have helped, his part is still one of the largest. Today, his main job is to combine code written by others into the main Linux kernel. He has the final say on what new code is added.
Linus also holds the Linux trademark. He makes sure the name is used correctly, mainly through the Linux Mark Institute.
Other Software Linus Created
Git
On April 3, 2005, Linus started creating Git. This software helps many people work on the same computer code without problems. It became very popular. In July 2005, he handed over the project to another developer, Junio Hamano.
Subsurface
Linus also developed a software called Subsurface. This program helps scuba divers plan and record their dives. He started working on it in late 2011. It is also free and open-source software.
Linus Torvalds' Personal Life
Linus Torvalds is married to Tove Torvalds. She is a six-time Finnish national karate champion. They met in 1993 when Linus was teaching a computer class. Tove sent him an email asking for a date. They got married and have three daughters.
Linus describes himself as "completely a-religious" or someone who doesn't follow a religion. He believes that appreciating nature and having morals don't require religion. He finds it amazing that the world exists without needing a "miraculous creation."
In 2004, Linus and his family moved from Silicon Valley to Portland, Oregon. In 2010, he became a citizen of the United States. He is not officially connected to any political party.
Linus became interested in scuba diving in the early 2000s. His love for diving led him to create the Subsurface software.
Awards and Achievements
| Year | Award | Notes |
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| 2019 | Great Immigrants Award | Honored by The Carnegie Corporation of New York. |
| 2018 | IEEE Masaru Ibuka Consumer Electronics Award | Recognized for his leadership in developing and spreading Linux. |
| 2014 | IEEE Computer Pioneer Award | Honored for his important contributions to the computer field. |
| 2012 | Internet Hall of Fame | One of the first people to be included in the Internet Hall of Fame. |
| 2012 | Millennium Technology Prize | Often called the "Nobel Prize of technology," he shared this award for creating the Linux kernel. |
| 2010 | C&C Prize | Awarded for helping advance information technology and improve lives. |
| 2008 | Hall of Fellows | Inducted into the Computer History Museum for creating the Linux kernel. |
| 2005 | Vollum Award | Received the Vollum Award from Reed College. |
| 2003 | Linus (Moon) | A moon of an asteroid was partly named after him. |
| 2001 | Takeda Award | Shared this award for social and economic well-being. |
| 2000 | Lovelace Medal | Awarded by the British Computer Society. |
| 1998 | EFF Pioneer Award | Received an award from the Electronic Frontier Foundation. |
| 1997 | Academic Honors | Received his master's degree. He also received honorary doctorates from Stockholm University and the University of Helsinki. An auditorium at the University of Helsinki is named after him. |
| 1996 | 9793 Torvalds (Asteroid) | An asteroid was named after him. |
Media Recognition
Time magazine has featured Linus Torvalds several times:
- In 2000, he was listed among the 100 most important people of the century.
- In 2004, he was named one of the world's most influential people.
- In 2006, Time Europe called him one of the revolutionary heroes of the past 60 years.
InfoWorld gave him the 2000 Award for Industry Achievement. In 2005, BusinessWeek listed him as one of "the best managers." In 2010, he was included in The 100 Most Influential Inventors of All Time by The Britannica Guide.
See also
In Spanish: Linus Torvalds para niños
- Linus's law
- Tanenbaum–Torvalds debate
- List of pioneers in computer science
