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The Code

The Code presents the first decade of Linux from 1991 to 2001. Besides Torvalds, it includes many of his closest allies in development process, that is nowadays seen as the greatest success story of the Internet culture. Eventually, Linux becomes a viable business solution within the computer industry.

Media loves the story of ‘a single hacker against the forces of darkness’. ‘Linux’ becomes a catch phrase. Torvalds turns into an international media star. No more a shy nerd, but a relaxed, witty media performer par excellence. Linus is a Jesus for a politician, respected and adored by both Linux enthusiasts, the counter-culture – and the big businessmen. A rare combination, this time or any other.

But even after all this attention Linus Torvalds remains, as a person, an enigma. When interviewed in the media, he is always asked the same questions and usually giving the same answers too. We think we know him, but do we really? Why did he put his code into the Net for free, initially? Many can still not understand it. Maybe because ‘given enough eyeballs, all bugs are shallow’, giving a way to a better product? Or is there something more to it?

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  1. This is a better version (not hardsubbed in Swedish). It does still have
    Swedish subtitles, but also English and other languages. They are all
    optional:
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XMm0HsmOTFI

  2. does not suffer from being old, due to it being a delightfully insightful documentation on the rise of the Linux kernel. could perhaps be more in-depth, but does well in serving as an introduction (and even some lengths beyond that) to Linux for both the complete newbie as well as the already familiar enthusiast.

    a must-see if you are interested in Linux.