Who is Linus Torvalds and Why Should You Care?

In the tech world, there is so much discussion about operating systems and which platform is better than the other. When we think about operating systems, it's tempting to only look at Windows, Apple and now, Android. Innovators like Steve Jobs and Bill Gates have amassed large fortunes selling their technology, and are often though of as the founding fathers of computers.



While that is true in a large part, many people forget to include Linus Torvalds, the "King of Geeks" in their ranks. Torvalds, a software engineer and hacker, is the man behind Linux, an open source operating system. Linux, the operating system that I use, is a free, open source platform that allows programmers to collaborate and create new programs and frameworks. Because the code is available for anyone to use, look at or tweak, Linux has played an integral part in the development of new operating systems like Android.



Linux, which had always been the realm of programmers and nerds alike, has grown in popularity in recent years. In fact, it's hard to get around the open source community without seeing Torvalds's personal mascot, a penguin called "Tux". The little penguin is hard to miss and has been widely adopted by the Linux community. The reason that you may not be familiar with Torvalds is that he has always strongly believed that "Open source is the only right way to do software." As such, Red Hat Linux can been obtained, for personal use, for free. In spite of that, soon, Red Hat Linux will become the first $1 billion open source company.



Because open source is typically free, he hasn't gained the huge fortune and fame as Bill Gates has. However, he has received lots of recognition for his accomplishments. In 2000, Time magazine named him number 17 in their top 100 most important people of the century.



For programmers and others who work in the tech world, being familiar with Linux can mean larger paychecks. According to a survey by Dice, there is a rising demand for developers who know how to use and create programs in Linux. In addition, system administrators and other professionals who are proficient with Linux are also hard to find.



Linux is important, but not just as an operating system. The Linux kernel is what powers large companies like Google, Facebook and Twitter. If you were to take a look at their large servers, odds are high that they would be running Linux. Because Linux allows almost anyone to build software and create code to improve existing open source programs, it's easy to learn on you own. For children who are interested in building and creating their own programs, Linux offers the best platform to really experiment.



In addition to the high demand for Linux talent, another survey showed that Linux professionals earn, on average, 5 percent more than other tech professionals and 15 percent higher bonus payouts.



With the addition of Android into the arena and the increased use of open source web browsers like Mozilla's Firefox and Google Chrome, the market for open source is growing. It's an idea whose time has come, and there is no better way to embrace the open source model than by learning Linux.



Are you comfortable using Linux, UNIX or Ubuntu? Please share your thoughts in the comments.