No problem is too big it can't be run away from Linus Torvalds More Quotes by Linus Torvalds More Quotes From Linus Torvalds I have one very basic rule when it comes to "good ideas". A good idea is not an idea that solves a problem cleanly. A good idea is an idea that solves several things at the same time. The mark of good coding is not that the program does what you want, it's that it also does something that you didn't start out wanting. Linus Torvalds doewantideas People will realize that software is not a product; you use it to build a product. Linus Torvalds realizingusepeople To be honest, the fact that people trust you gives you a lot of power over people. Having another person's trust is more powerful than all other management techniques put together. Linus Torvalds powerfulgivingpeople UNIX has a philosophy, it has 25 years of history behind it, and most importantly, it has a clean core. It strives for something - some kind of beauty. And that's really what struck me as a programmer. Operating systems that normal home users are used to, such as DOS and Windows, didn't have any way of life. Nobody tried to design Windows - it just grew in random directions without any kind of thought behind it. [...] I don't think Microsoft is evil in itself; I just think that they make really crappy operating systems. Linus Torvalds homephilosophythinking People who are doing things for fun do things the right way by themselves. Linus Torvalds funpeopleway When you say 'I wrote a program that crashed Windows,' people just stare at you blankly and say 'Hey, I got those with the system, for free.' Linus Torvalds humorfunnypeople I used to be interested in Windows NT, but the more I see it, the more it looks like traditional Windows with a stabler kernel. I don't find anything technically interesting there. Linus Torvalds lookswindowinteresting By staying neutral, I end up being somebody that everybody can trust. Even if they don't always agree with my decisions, they know I'm not working against them. Linus Torvalds agreedecisionends In open source, we feel strongly that to really do something well, you have to get a lot of people involved. Linus Torvalds sourcefeelspeople Hey, I'm a good software engineer, but I'm not exactly known for my fashion sense. White socks and sandals don't translate to 'good design sense'. Linus Torvalds designfashionwhite In real open source, you have the right to control your own destiny. Linus Torvalds destinysourcereal In short: just say NO TO DRUGS, and maybe you won't end up like the Hurd people. Linus Torvalds drugendspeople In many cases the user interface to a program is the most important part for a commercial company: whether the programs works correctly or not seems to be secondary. Linus Torvalds programeconomyimportant Artists usually don't make all that much money, and they often keep their artistic hobby despite the money rather than due to it. Linus Torvalds hobbieseconomyartist Programmers are in the enviable position of not only getting to do what they want to, but because the end result is so important they get paid to do it. There are other professions like that, but not that many. Linus Torvalds economyimportantwant Software is like sex: It's better when it's free. Linus Torvalds linuxtechnologysex Every time I see some piece of medical research saying that caffeine is good for you, I high-five myself. Because I'm going to live forever. Linus Torvalds piecesresearchforever Let's put it this way: if you need to ask a lawyer whether what you do is "right" or not, you are morally corrupt. Let's not go there. We don't base our morality on law. Linus Torvalds lawwayneeds We all know Linux is great...it does infinite loops in 5 seconds. Linus Torvalds linuxinfinitedoe I may make jokes about Microsoft at times, but at the same time, I think the Microsoft hatred is a disease. Linus Torvalds microsofthatredthinking
