Git turns 20: A Q&A with Linus Torvalds

a year ago

Git was created by Linus Torvalds in 2005 as a replacement for BitKeeper after licensing disagreements.
Torvalds developed Git in just 10 days, focusing on performance and a decentralized design.
Git's initial version was raw but superior to existing tools like CVS, despite early usability complaints.
The tool's distributed nature and SHA-1 hashes for corruption detection were key design decisions.
Git gained widespread adoption, especially among new developers who had no prior SCM experience.
Torvalds handed off Git's maintenance to Junio Hamano after just a few months, who has led it since.
Git's success lies in its simplicity, scalability, and the ease of collaboration it enables.
Torvalds remains a casual Git user, relying on basic commands like commit, merge, and log.
Despite its dominance, Git faces challenges from unconventional uses, like large monorepos.
Torvalds has no regrets about Git's design and appreciates its impact, though he never intended it to be his legacy.

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