Linus Torvalds' double life

Torvalds makes the final decisions on what code is added to each version of the software, which is distributed for free on the Internet.

Companies like Red Hat Software and Caldera Systems distribute commercial versions of the operating system on CD-ROM. For around $60, the CD contains Linux, utilities and an installation interface. The source code, the software equivalent of sentences in a novel, is open for the world to see. This open source approach follows the tradition that Unix laid out.

Linux has been a hobbyist operating system for most of its life. Programmers and server administrators are its biggest fans, while corporate information technology managers saw it as an unsupported rogue operating system.

It was legitimized last year when software company Informix released a version of their database for Linux.

"A year ago Linux was technically good but it wasn't psychology accepted," said Torvalds. "So what you had was a lot of companies that were interested in Linux but very few were prepared to take a step ...so then Informix eventually just said ok we'll do this. They actually announced that they would ship it and one week later (Informix competitor) Oracle did the same...a lot of people said FINALLY!"

Since then, other milestones have been significant.

Dell, IBM and Compaq began shipping of preinstalled versions of Linux on new computers.

Ottawa-based Corel shipped a free version of their WordPerfect Office suite for the rogue OS. They also announced a user-friendly, easy to install interface for Linux, to be rolled out in the fall.

LinuxWorld, the first mega-Linux conference was attend by big guns like Sun Microsystems, IBM and Hewlett Packard in March.

Torvalds sees a day when Linux will become a consumer desktop operating system that will rival Microsoft's Windows franchise. For now he says, 'I don't think I keep Bill Gates awake at night."

Torvalds is confident that Linux will go mainstream.

"These things take time," he said. "Judging by gut feeling, in a year or two you have all the implications that you would expect, and even then the inertia to change (among computer users) is fairly strong."

Several developments have to happen for Linux to become consumerized.

"Once you have pre-installs, applications and you have a nice desktop you're starting to get there," he said. "In order for people to actually switch you have to have some reason."

Torvalds believes that reason to switch lies in Linux's origin as a server operating system. He believes Windows is fine when used to dial into the Internet through a modem, but is handicapped when it's "a node" - or a permanently Internet connected computer through high speed Internet connection services.

"Once you're actually a real node instead of being kind of a client suddenly Windows isn't that attractive and Unix is strong in that," he explained.

Part of Linux's success has been that it is distributed for free. Torvalds equates a free operating system with a basic human right.

"If you look at the UN, everybody has the right to a roof over their head. Everybody has a right to food or things like that. It's kind of cheesy to compare that everybody has a right to use an operating system, but I think if you have a computer it's kind of true...like phones it should be cheap enough that you can afford."

Then, he added quirkily, "And you can pay extra if you want 1-900 numbers and have phone sex, whatever."

Speaking of sex, Torvalds says he didn't get much in the early days of Linux.

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