Torvalds: Retirement won't see death of Linux

07 Feb 2008 17:16

Linus Torvalds says that many people wouldn't even notice if he stepped down from his position as co-ordinator of the Linux kernel

If Linus Torvalds stepped away from his position as co-ordinator of the Linux kernel, it is unlikely many people would notice, according to the man himself.

When asked what would happen if he decided to retire from co-ordinating kernel development, Torvalds said it certainly would not be the death of Linux.

In a video interview at the linux.conf.au conference in Melbourne last week, Torvalds said: "The question comes up. It is not something I really worry about. I also don’t worry that it would impact Linux that much. In the end there are so many people involved."

"There are many people who are trusted — it is not just Andrew [Morton] who would be the obvious step-in replacement — and almost nobody would notice," Torvalds continued.

"There are other people who could take over what I do, and I would like to think that they would be worse at it, but it is not like Linux itself would go away or be in deep trouble," Torvalds added.

Story URL: http://news.zdnet.co.uk/software/0,1000000121,39292709,00.htm