Linus Torvalds likes to build and fix things. Of course, he has the technical expertise to tinker with various things.
Not a surprise if you know that he created Linux as a clone of UNIX from scratch because he could not afford a UNIX system.
For a similar reason, he also built Git after BitKeeper was no longer free to use.
He continues his tinkerer spirit and the 'i can fix that' attitude even today.
He managed to run Fedora Linux 36 Workstation edition on his Apple Macbook Air M2.
Note: As informed by Hector Martin from Asahi Linux, it seems Linus Torvalds used Leif's tooling packages here. So, he didn't make everything from scratch to make it work, if you assumed otherwise.
We got to spot this exciting ordeal thanks to ZDNet's interview with Torvalds.
Fedora Linux on Apple M2 Silicon
Apple Macbook Air is an excellent laptop. But, it cannot entirely run Linux the way a consumer would want.
However, it seems that Linus Torvalds is a genius at making Linux work with Apple computers.
Even though there were no Fedora ports for Apple's ARM-based M2 chip, he did it anyway.
Note that it does not mean you can run Fedora Linux on Macbook Air M2 immediately. It is only suitable for Linux wizards like Torvalds to be able to make it work.
He says the experience is snappy even without graphics acceleration and the lack of some graphical effects on the GNOME desktop environment such as screen dimming.
I like it that way, it makes the display more snappy. I may turn those off on my other machines as well.
Indeed, this is an exciting achievement in general!
The State of Linux on Apple Silicon
Not just Linus Torvalds, but everyone has been impressed with Apple M1/M2 chips for their performance.
In fact, he utilized the Macbook Air M2 to release Linux Kernel 5.19.
Linus Torvalds Uses Apple MacBook Hardware to Release Linux Kernel 5.19
Three months after the last kernel release, Linux Kernel 5.19 is finally here. This exciting release brings plenty of improvements to every aspect of the kernel and opens up opportunities with new hardware. The most interesting part is that the Linux creator Linus Torvalds used an Apple MacBook…
It's FOSS NewsJacob Crume
As much as we would love to try it, Apple's M2 is not ready for Linux yet.
Fortunately, projects like Asahi Linux have constantly been improving Apple silicon support. They have also managed to make Linux work on the latest Apple M2 chip.
And, with efforts from the creator of Linux, it should be sooner than later we get to see a complete Linux experience on Macbook.
As of now, you can make it work with Asahi Linux, it is still not something to replace it as a daily driver for most users.
Suggested Read 📖
Interested in learning a bit more on Torvalds? We have an interesting collection here 👇
Linus Torvalds: 20 Facts About the Creator of Linux
Linus Torvalds is the creator of Linux. Here are 20 facts about the Linus Torvalds, his family, his life and his achievements.
It's FOSSAbhishek Prakash
💬 What do you think about Fedora Linux running on Apple hardware? Do you want a specific distro to run on Apple M1/M2 powered devices? What would be that?
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As a technology enthusiast with a profound understanding of Linux, open-source software, and computer architecture, I've closely followed the developments and contributions of Linus Torvalds, the mastermind behind the Linux kernel. Linus Torvalds is revered for his exceptional technical expertise and innovative problem-solving skills, which have revolutionized the world of operating systems and software development.
The article you provided discusses Linus Torvalds' recent accomplishment of running Fedora Linux 36 Workstation on an Apple MacBook Air M2, showcasing his ability to adapt and optimize Linux for new hardware platforms. This feat highlights Torvalds' continual tinkering spirit and his determination to make Linux compatible with diverse computing environments.
Here's an elucidation of the concepts intertwined in the article:
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Linus Torvalds: The creator of the Linux kernel, renowned for his technical prowess and contributions to open-source software.
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Linux and Unix: Linux, initially created by Torvalds as a UNIX-like operating system, evolved into a robust and versatile platform for various devices and architectures.
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Git: A distributed version control system developed by Torvalds, vital for collaborative software development, particularly after his dissatisfaction with the proprietary tool, BitKeeper.
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Fedora Linux: A popular, community-driven Linux distribution known for its bleeding-edge features and support for various hardware architectures.
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Apple MacBook Air M2: Apple's latest hardware, equipped with the M2 chip, based on ARM architecture, presenting challenges for running Linux due to architectural differences.
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Asahi Linux: A project aimed at porting Linux to Apple Silicon (M1/M2) by creating compatible drivers and support for ARM-based Macs.
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Hardware Compatibility and Linux Ports: Challenges in adapting Linux to new hardware platforms due to differences in architecture and proprietary components. Projects like Asahi Linux strive to bridge this gap.
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Linux Kernel Releases: Torvalds, occasionally using unconventional hardware setups, such as Apple's MacBook, for Linux kernel releases, showcasing its adaptability.
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Linux on Apple Silicon: Ongoing efforts by the open-source community, including Torvalds, to bring a complete Linux experience to Apple's M1/M2-powered devices, despite current limitations.
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Linux as a Daily Driver: While progress has been made in making Linux functional on Apple Silicon, it may not yet replace the primary operating system for most users due to potential limitations in performance or compatibility.
This intersection of Linux development, hardware innovation, and Torvalds' technical wizardry signifies the constant evolution and adaptability of open-source software in diverse computing landscapes.
