Linux, founder of Git Linus Torvalds takes leave of the open-source

Linus Torvalds, the founder of the Linux open source operating system, takes a little time to say, "I have to change some of my behaviors."

After facing a conference about his bullish behavior, the well-known open source software creator and community figurehead says he will be moving away from the open source community for an indefinite time. Linux developer Greg Kroah-Hartman, who currently runs the Linux operating system kernel, will take over from Torvalds in his absence.

"This week, members of our community have faced a life without understanding emotions," wrote Torvalds on a Linux mailing list on September 16. He then acknowledged his "casual attacks on e-mails". and "not called for".

This may be the first time the layman, known for his swearing, insults, and personal attacks, publicly apologizes for his behavior. In the past, Torvalds defended his right to intimidation, to be rude and even to shame his colleagues, by calling him an aspect of his Finnish-American leadership style or simply his personality.

Now, it seems, he takes a different tone and tactics. "I need to change some of my behaviors and I want to apologize to the people concerned for the fact that my personal behavior has harmed and perhaps completely moved away from the core development," Torvalds continued in email to community members. "I'm going to take leave and get help to understand people's emotions and react appropriately."

Technology industry leaders have been pushing Twitter, hoping that his example would lead Torvalds to a better leadership style, while giving the software development community an example.

Others have mentioned that the type of behavior presented by Torvalds would have long forced its withdrawal from professional circles, even though they hoped that its potential reform would lead to a new era in the free software community.

Torvalds is also the creator of the git software development and management tool, a versioning system that Torvalds said to have named. In British English, "git" refers to a "rotten person". "I am a selfish bastard, so I name all my projects after me," he told PC World in 2005.