Software patents, in particular, are very ripe for abuse. The whole system encourages big corporations getting thousands and thousands of patents. Individuals almost never get them.
Linus TorvaldsRead
I don't have any authority over Linux other than this notion that I know what I'm doing.
Interpretation
What this quote means
Linus Torvalds emphasizes that his influence on Linux comes from his expertise rather than formal authority.
In this quote, Linus Torvalds points out that his leadership and impact on the development of Linux stem from his deep understanding and experience in the field, rather than from traditional forms of authority. This reflects the collaborative and meritocratic nature of open-source projects, where respect and leadership are earned through knowledge and skill rather than positional power.
Themes
AuthorityLinuxExpertiseLeadershipCollaboration
In practice
Example use cases
A software development team can use this quote during a meeting to emphasize the importance of respect based on knowledge and skills rather than job titles.
More from Linus Torvalds
All quotes βI often compare open source to science. To where science took this whole notion of developing ideas in the open and improving on other peoples' ideas and making it into what science is today and the incredible advances that we have had. And I compare that to witchcraft and alchemy, where openness was something you didn't do.
Linus TorvaldsRead
I'm sitting in my home office wearing a bathrobe. The same way I'm not going to start wearing ties, I'm also not going to buy into the fake politeness, the lying, the office politics and backstabbing, the passive aggressiveness, and the buzzwords.
Linus TorvaldsRead
Avoiding complexity reduces bugs.
Linus TorvaldsRead
Most of the good programmers do programming not because they expect to get paid or get adulation by the public, but because it is fun to program.
Linus TorvaldsRead
I have an ego the size of a small planet.
Linus TorvaldsRead
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