Linus Torvalds reflects on Git's humble beginnings and impact

In April 2005, Linus Torvalds began developing Git as a solution to the challenges he faced while working on the Linux kernel. He created Git in response to the licensing issues with BitKeeper, a version control system he had been using. The first commit of Git occurred shortly after its development began, on April 7, 2005, and marked the start of an influential project that would revolutionize code management. Despite Git's considerable impact on software development, Torvalds expressed that it was never a major concern for him personally, as he created it mainly to service his needs for kernel development. After four months of maintaining Git, Torvalds handed over the project to Junio Hamano, who continues to be its maintainer. Torvalds described himself as a casual user who utilizes a limited number of Git commands. His casual approach contrasts with the widespread adoption and complexity of Git, which has become the dominant version control system worldwide. Factors contributing to Git's success include its self-hosting capabilities and the establishment of GitHub in 2005, which simplified collaboration in open-source environments. While Git has achieved significant popularity, not everyone admires it. Some developers, like D Richard Hipp, creator of SQLite, prefer alternatives like Fossil for their code management needs due to Git's perceived lack of intuitiveness. There remains a sentiment among some that the decision to adopt Git over alternatives like Mercurial, which was similarly created in response to BitKeeper's licensing problems, influenced a significant shift in how developers approach version control. This shift shows the powerful network effect Git has in the software development landscape. Torvalds himself acknowledges that he is less involved in the development community today, indicating that his interest has waned since Git fulfilled its intended purpose for his projects. His comments reflect a broader acceptance of Git's role in software history and suggest a need for ongoing dialogue around its usability for newcomers. The combination of Git's genesis in the face of specific challenges, its rapid adoption, and the role of community resources like GitHub underline the delicate balance of technology's evolution and user experience.