During an interview at the Linux Foundation Open Source Summit in Seoul, Linus Torvalds, the Linux kernel maintainer, offered his insights on the growing trend of vibe coding. This method, which involves interacting with computers through voice, gesture, and other intuitive interfaces rather than typing code, has gained attention as a potential way to introduce newcomers to software development. Torvalds admitted that while vibe coding is ‘fairly positive’ for learning and experimentation, it would be a ‘horrible, horrible idea’ for maintaining production code due to its maintenance challenges.
Torvalds explained that computers have evolved significantly since he first learned to code by typing in programs from computer magazines. This complexity has made traditional coding methods less accessible to new developers, and vibe coding presents a promising entry point for those entering the field. However, he emphasized that for any project beyond personal use, the limitations of vibe coding in terms of reliability and maintainability make it unsuitable for real-world applications.
His comments reflect a broader shift in his role as a kernel maintainer, moving from a position of rejecting new ideas to occasionally advocating for them despite resistance from long-standing maintainers who may be resistant to change. Torvalds also noted that Rust, a programming language known for its focus on safety and performance, is becoming an integral part of the Linux kernel rather than remaining an experimental feature. This indicates a growing acceptance of Rust within the Linux ecosystem.
Furthermore, Torvalds mentioned the disruptive impact of AI crawlers on their infrastructure, noting that these crawlers collect data from kernel.org source code, leading to bugs and security notices that are ‘made up by people who misuse AI.’ He pointed out that while this issue is concerning, it is less prevalent compared to other projects such as curl. These observations highlight the evolving challenges faced by open-source communities as they navigate the integration of new technologies and the increasing role of AI in software development.