What My Average Day Is Actually Like

2/29/2009

People have been repeatedly asking me, “how do you manage your time, with both your work and your family?” and “is life different now that you’re famous?” and similar things. The thing is, I don’t actually have a regular workday or do much actual work.

For me, “work” means essentially just sitting at my computer at 9:30 PM and looking at email after email to see if there’s any code or anything else that’s important. In the rare case that someone sends me some code for Linux, I don’t actually put it in Linux, I just either approve it or email them back with edits, like “you should probably do this like that, but this thing is fine”, etc. You see, I don’t actually write much code of my own, I just edit and put together what other people write for me. This makes my workday not a typical 9-to-5 workday like most people’s. Also, Tove does all of the staying home and doing chores and taking care of the kids, which is a huge help.

I also read a lot. Occasionally it’s serious stuff, mostly about psychology and biology and the like, but most often it’s just bulk fiction, sci-fi and fantasy. No, I do not live like a celebrity or enjoy much of “the high life” like most people with my level of recognition do. I’m not humble or anything, it’s just that I’m not into money (although it has its advantages) or becoming a visionary or attracting crowds. I just wanted to code and to make an operating system that suited me. I don’t work on Linux for money or for the warm, fuzzy feeling I get from not working for money. I just code because coding is fun for me. That’s it.🐧

I'm Moving To California

7/17/1997

As some of you have probably already found out, I am leaving my home in Finland and moving to the place where practically all the computer science happens: Silicon Valley. 

Why? Well, I have a few reasons. First of all, I’m a programmer, and a reasonably successful one at that, and if you’re at least a somewhat successful programmer, you probably should at least visit Silicon Valley, if not move there. Second, I want to try living in a new climate. California doesn’t have the long, dark, cold winters of Finland and I kind of want to see what it’s like in a warmer, brighter place. Also, I want to actually start doing some real work. I will now be working at Transmeta Corporation, a semiconductor company in Santa Clara. And yes, the company is funded by Paul Allen, co-founder of Microsoft. I am not trying to switch loyalties and become a traitor of the open-source movement, as some of you might think. (I should probably stop making assumptions about what you guys will think, but still.) I am merely going to work at a semiconductor company founded by Paul Allen.

Also, on the Microsoft note: Many of you have been idolizing me and representing me as the David about to slay the “evil” Bill Gates. While I do enjoy the praise, I am_not_the selfless, altruistic, completely ego-less person I am being represented as. I also have no objections to Microsoft being rich and popular and bureaucratic, all I have against Microsoft is that they make really bad operating systems. (They do!) Anyways, the next time you’ll see me post, I’ll be in America - People have described how different America is, and I’m not sure what to expect, but I’ll tell you what I like and dislike when I’m there.😜

Linux Logo Contest!

10/08/1996

First of all, I want to thank all of you around the world who helped me create the Linux kernel. Your contributions were vital to my success (and ego), and we would have never had an operating system quite like this one if it were not for all your efforts. But the thing I want to talk about now is that every company (or invention or trademark or whatever), including Linux, needs a logo, and making logos is not that easy (at least for me).

The not-so-hard part that anyone with decent imagination can do is to think of a picture and go like, oh, that will be the most_adorable_and well-designed and completely fitting mascot for Linux and it should totally be the logo and how could anything else. Well, for me at least, and (I’m guessing) for many others as well, it’s not that easy to actually make a drawing and turn the conceptual image in my head into a reality. Or at least a projection of reality onto a screen with pixels. Which is why I’m lazy and relying on people with talent (that is, all of you who are interested) to draw my logo for me, and all I will have to do is pick my favorite and leave everyone else’s hard work wasted. Just as a hint: I will fall very easily for adorable, stuffed, slightly overweight, bean-bag type flightless Antarctic waterfowl. 

If any of you guys are interested in making a logo, you can maybe share your idea in the comments or email a drawing of it to me. I would like to receive all your entries by the end of this year. All ideas and drawings are welcome! Especially adorable, plush, lovable animals stuffed to the brim with food. Good luck!