In a recent interview at the Linux Foundation Open Source Summit in Seoul, Linus Torvalds, the Linux kernel maintainer, outlined his views on the use of vibe coding as a learning tool for beginners. While he praised its value for getting newcomers into programming, he was clear that it is not suitable for maintaining production code. Torvalds noted the increased complexity of modern computing systems, which have evolved far beyond the simple programs he learned to code decades ago. He emphasized that his role has shifted from rejecting new ideas to advocating for them against resistance from traditional maintainers who may be resistant to change. Additionally, he highlighted the growing integration of Rust into the Linux kernel and the challenges posed by AI-driven data crawlers that extract information from kernel.org, which can lead to misinformation and security issues.
During the interview, Torvalds also discussed the broader implications of AI in the open-source community. He mentioned that AI crawlers have been ‘very disruptive to a lot of our infrastructure’ due to the way they collect data from kernel.org. While the problem is not as significant as it is for projects such as curl, it remains a growing concern for kernel maintainers. The data extracted by these crawlers is used to generate fake bugs and security notices, which can mislead developers and complicate the maintenance process. Torvalds emphasized that the open-source community needs to find ways to address these challenges while continuing to innovate and adapt to new technologies.
Torvalds also highlighted the increasing role of Rust in the Linux kernel, stating that it is ‘actually becoming a real part of the kernel instead of being this experimental thing.’ This shift reflects the broader trend of adopting more robust and secure programming languages within the Linux ecosystem. However, he also noted that maintaining such a large and complex codebase requires a balance between innovation and stability, especially given the community’s reliance on a long-standing development model. While Torvalds is not using AI-assisted coding himself, he is keenly aware of its impact on the broader software development landscape. His comments underscore the ongoing tension between tradition and technological advancement in the Linux community.