Linus Torvalds Reflects on Git’s 20th Anniversary: Is It More Famous Than Linux?
Linus Torvalds, the creator of Linux, recently celebrated Git’s 20th anniversary with a Q&A hosted by GitHub. During the session, Torvalds shared reflections on Git’s evolution and its role in the broader tech community. He noted the irony of his daughter’s observation that Git is more recognized in her computer science classes than Linux itself. Torvalds humorously dismissed the idea, explaining that while he was involved in Git’s development for just four months, Junio Hamano has been its lead developer for over 19 years.
Git was originally created as a practical solution to manage the Linux kernel’s development, Torvalds explained. Before Git, the Linux kernel relied on BitKeeper, a proprietary version control system that raised concerns among open-source contributors. This prompted Torvalds to create Git, a tool tailored for his specific needs. Despite initial challenges, Git gradually gained traction and became a standard in software development. Torvalds emphasized that Git was never his primary focus but a means to prevent the Linux kernel from descending into chaos without a version control system. He acknowledged that some early adopters struggled with Git due to its departure from traditional source control systems like CVS, but its simplicity and efficiency eventually won over developers.
Torvalds also mentioned the early adoption phase, where users often criticized Git’s difficulty. However, as the tool evolved, these issues were largely resolved, and Git became a cornerstone of collaborative software development. His insights provide a glimpse into the unexpected legacy of Git, which has become more iconic than its parent project, Linux, in many ways.