Wookash Podcast How Does Linux Work? | Greg Kroah-Hartman
Jun 7, 2025
Greg Kroah-Hartman, a key Linux kernel maintainer, shares his journey from coding on a TRS-80 to becoming a steward of Linux. He discusses the culture of open source maintainership and what it takes to be a contributor. The conversation dives into integrating Rust into the kernel for better safety, the collaboration between hardware companies and developers, and the evolution of the Linux Foundation. Greg also touches on Linux optimizations for gaming on Steam Deck and the intriguing role of Generative AI in development.
AI Snips
Chapters
Transcript
Episode notes
Early Programming Roots
- Greg Kroah-Hartman started programming very young, spending a summer between 5th and 6th grade fully immersed in coding. - His parents bought him a TRS-80, where he learned BASIC and assembly, setting the foundation for his lifelong career.
Linux Contribution Origin
- Greg began contributing to Linux in the late 90s by fixing USB device firmware bugs via patches. - This start led to him becoming a core kernel developer and maintainer over time.
Maintainership Follows People
- Linux maintainership follows individuals, not companies, which allows deep expertise to build over decades. - This consistency leads to more knowledge retention compared to closed-source projects like Windows.