[Fsf-friends] Linus Torvalds -just for fun

[kush]

Hi all,

I recently read "just for fun" by Linus and another writer. Came to know 
that he started playing/tinkering with calculators/computers of those 
days when he was around 10 or 11. Also he could write system software 
(assemblers, device drivers,linkers, loaders, disassemblers, etc) much 
before he started the linux project. So he was in a unique position to 
actually do this contribution for humanity because he had been honing 
his skills for a long time without even planning for it consciously. His 
getting hands on the Andrew Tanenbaum OS book (700 plus page book and 
studying it extremely thoroughly in 2 or 3 months) also was one of the 
points in his history which led him to develop this linux OS. Surely 
somebody (some mentor/teacher/classmate etc) would have guided him to 
this book or it happenned by chance. It is mentioned that he studied it 
so thoroughly that it became second nature to him-- he used to sleep 
with it.

Also the student in western system of education decides what they want 
to really study whereas we in India are asked to cram any and everything 
to give us so called "more rounded" knowledge --ultimately the course is 
so vast that we just get superficial knowledge of everything and hardly 
learn much. Most private engg colleges have low standards and students 
just try to pass by hook or crook. Programming exercises are copied and 
there is no system of competitive learning by sharing and open 
discussion. I think we should have our elective known to us in 2nd year 
and study should be according to that elective. For Torvalds, his 
elective subject became system software programming --specially 
Operating system development even before he started his course. He 
learned other subjects (such as tcp/ip etc etc) related to the main 
project  with the passing of time from other hackers as well. I think 
once he rewrote the kernel as well since something was implemented badly 
earlier. (his high standards --make the best software possible)

There is another difference when I compare with Indian 
colleges/universities --methods of teaching. Linus had information about 
textbooks/recommended reading books much much before his course started 
and therefore was able to prepare in advance whereas in our college days 
we used to wait for the teacher to tell us which books to buy after the 
term started or was half way thru. We used to save on books by borrowing 
from the library (generally badly stocked) or get earlier editions /hand 
me downs.

The information on how a programmer can do a great job by reading or 
learning about the thought processes of such unusual people and geniuses 
as the mathematician Gauss etc was also very interesting. (story of 
teacher asking a class to calculate the sum of numbers from 1 to 100) It 
shows that Linus was already by that time far ahead in his problem 
solving skills as he was somehow reading above and beyond his 
school/college course --biographies and stories of famed geniuses always 
help. His insight into how a question is framed which ultimately leads 
to a better solution is also something worth understanding.

His sister Sara actually made him improve his english because of the 
sibling rivalry, playful competition, fighting between the children etc 
etc and also because he had to understand the manuals etc which were 
written in english for all his machines from abroad.

When one compares him with Richard Stallman who also has great 
strengths, the only reason one sees him more successful in influencing 
something is because he is always in a continuous learning mode (even in 
non technical areas as the other writer has written) and also because he 
somehow understands the concept of not getting attached to one's 
possessions/ideas/beliefs too rigidly because everything is relative.

I hope I can read some book/biography on Stallman too --please let me 
know if you know of any.

Thanks,
Kush