Cronicle

 

Chronicle of Linus Torvalds

Chronicle: The Day Linus Torvalds Changed Everything

It was an ordinary day in August 1991 when Linus Torvalds, a Finnish computer science student, sat down at his desk with a simple idea: to create something better, a better operating system for his personal use. He had no grand plans, no investors, and no company backing him. He only relied on his curiosity and a strong desire to fix something that, in his opinion, wasn't working well.

That day, he posted a message on an internet forum saying he was developing a free operating system, just as a hobby, and that he wanted feedback. It seemed insignificant, almost like a side project for class. But that message was the beginning of something huge.

I wasn't there, of course, I wasn't even born, but every time I read that post, I imagine the moment: a young man, writing lines of code, unaware that his project would become Linux, a system that now powers most of the internet, Android phones, and even space missions.

What makes this story even more impressive is that Linus never sought to become famous. He wasn't looking to make millions or build a tech empire. He just wanted better software. And thanks to that simple goal, thousands of developers around the world rallied around him. Together, they created something built on collaboration and freedom.

When I think of Linus Torvalds, I don't picture a CEO in a suit. I picture a student like me, trying to solve a problem, working late into the night with a cup of coffee by his side. It reminds me that sometimes the biggest changes start with the smallest ideas and a bit of code.