this post was submitted on 22 Jun 2025
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Linux

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So what is going to happen when Linus gets to old to keep on to maintain the kernel ? I know there is a whole team, but he seems to have some kind of executive role in what’s gets released and not.

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[–] DmMacniel@feddit.org 71 points 1 month ago (2 children)

Then we fork Linus and continue as usual.

[–] hexdream@lemmy.world 15 points 1 month ago

Put down the lube, and step away from Linus!

[–] skaffi@infosec.pub 2 points 4 weeks ago

Say hello to Yet Another Linus Thorvalds Android, or YALTA for short. Name was decided upon at a conference. It was the compromise option, but remember that Android (and now, also androids) are technically still Linux (and now, also Linus).

[–] DarkMetatron@feddit.org 41 points 1 month ago (2 children)

He just turns into a Zombie Process and keeps going

[–] zloubida@sh.itjust.works 19 points 1 month ago (1 children)

I first read “a zombie princess” and I like this idea more.

[–] victorz@lemmy.world 3 points 1 month ago

Why does it feel like I've seen this episode of Adventure Time?

[–] DirigibleProtein@aussie.zone 5 points 1 month ago* (last edited 1 month ago)

nohup him now before it’s too late!

[–] kyub@discuss.tchncs.de 36 points 1 month ago* (last edited 1 month ago) (1 children)

The old question of "what happens when Linus/other senior kernel dev dies" mattered far more like 20+ years ago than it does now. The kernel developers are organized quite well, Linux is in general an extremely well-organized open source project these days, and there are several who could fill in. Linus' "2nd" is Greg Kroah-Hartman, who is the lead maintainer of the stable kernel branch (i.e. the one most are using). Linus is the lead maintainer of the in-development branch.

But of course we hope that Linus continues doing this for a long time. Most people never create even one world-changing technology, Linus casually created two (Linux + Git).

[–] catty@lemmy.world 6 points 4 weeks ago

Most people never create even one world-changing technology, Linus casually created two (Linux + Git).

And don't downplay that he did swear about Microsoft and Nvidia!

[–] pelya@lemmy.world 15 points 1 month ago (2 children)

Creating a kernel is hard, Linux itself is not going anywhere.
If all current maintainers suddenly disappear, several corporations, who heavily depend on Linux, will maintain their own forks, so we will get Google kernel for phones, Amazon kernel for datacenters, Valve kernel for gaming, and probably some European initiative kernel for PCs and laptops to do document editing.

[–] tazeycrazy@feddit.uk 2 points 4 weeks ago

Sounds like Unix in the end.

[–] catty@lemmy.world 1 points 4 weeks ago

And then comes the enshittification, like, ya know, Android.

[–] the_abecedarian@piefed.social 15 points 1 month ago

Someone else will take it up. Hopefully the transition is a graceful one, but it could be forked if necessary.

[–] onewithoutaname@k.fe.derate.me 15 points 1 month ago (2 children)

Greg Kroah-Hartman will take up the role then. He has filled in for Linus in the past.

[–] Tyoda@lemm.ee 10 points 1 month ago

And they never run the same version of the kernel so that if one crashes the other is still available

[–] melroy@kbin.melroy.org 3 points 1 month ago

And what if he also dies? If not suddenly

[–] AnUnusualRelic@lemmy.world 14 points 1 month ago (2 children)

We'll just train an AI from his mailing list posts and continue as usual.

[–] LiveLM@lemmy.zip 5 points 4 weeks ago

Don't think AI could ever dream up the weird cat fights and shouting matches that happen on those lists

[–] rikudou@lemmings.world 4 points 4 weeks ago

Please, no...

[–] paulbg@programming.dev 10 points 1 month ago (1 children)

all linux devs just gonna apply to microsoft

[–] melroy@kbin.melroy.org 3 points 1 month ago

This is the way

[–] throws_lemy@lemmy.nz 1 points 4 weeks ago

We gonna fork him into isekai world!

[–] just_another_person@lemmy.world -4 points 1 month ago* (last edited 1 month ago)

What's the future of you? Linux probably has better chances 🤣