Linus Torvalds Unleashes Fiery Critique on Google Contributor’s Filesystem Suggestions
January 31, 2024In a rare display of strong language, Linus Torvalds, the creator of Linux, has expressed vehement dissatisfaction with a Google contributor’s suggestions related to filesystems in one of his recent posts on the Linux kernel mailing list.
The heated exchange revolves around the topic of inodes, described by Red Hat as “a unique identifier for a specific piece of metadata on a given filesystem.” The debate has been ongoing for several weeks, with Torvalds and Google engineer Steven Rostedt engaging in robust discussions.
The contentious thread, titled “Have the inodes all for files and directories all be the same,” explored the role of inodes, especially in the context of using tar to archive files. Torvalds argued that inode numbers are no longer unique descriptors, urging a departure from outdated practices.
As the debate continued, Rostedt suggested that all inodes should have unique numbers. Torvalds responded with a tone and language rarely seen in recent years, advising Rostedt to stop complicating matters and expressing frustration about the replication of VFS layer functions.
Torvalds criticized Rostedt, stating, “You copied that function without understanding why it does what it does, and as a result your code IS GARBAGE. AGAIN.”
While Torvalds later offered suggestions on addressing the issues raised by Rostedt in a more constructive manner, the exchange highlighted the Linux creator’s strong stance when contributors don’t fully grasp the subject matter.
This incident is notable considering Torvalds’ past commitment to maintaining a respectful tone in the Linux community. In 2018, he took a break and sought help after acknowledging unprofessional behavior in his emails to fellow contributors.
The Linux kernel mailing list functions as a workplace for many contributors, and maintaining a positive environment is crucial for a project heavily reliant on volunteer contributors. Torvalds’ recent criticism emphasizes the importance of understanding the subject matter and avoiding unnecessary complications.
Despite the intense exchange, Torvalds returned to more positive updates in subsequent posts, announcing the release of version 6.8-rc2 of the Linux kernel and expressing optimism about the stability of the release cycle moving forward.
