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About this quote

What does it mean?
Creating Linux required not just coding skills but also political savvy and persistence.
In plain terms
You need coding and cunning to make a system.
What can you take from it?
Technical projects require social and political skills too.

Where it applies

  • tech leadership
  • open source projects

Putting it to work

  • develop political awareness
  • balance skills with soft skills

Questions to consider

  • What makes a successful system?
  • Is politics needed in coding?

Another view

It downplays the role of community and open collaboration.

More from Linus Torvalds

  1. :the Linux philosophy is 'laugh in the face of danger'. Oops. Wrong one. 'Do it yourself'. That's it.

    Permalink to quote #14
  2. Portability is for people who cannot write new programs.

    Permalink to quote #16
  3. Only wimps use tape backup: _real_ men just upload their important stuff on ftp, and let the rest of the world mirror it ;)

    Permalink to quote #13

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