If something happens to Linus Torvalds, there's now a succession plan. Rather than naming a successor, the plan describes a process for selecting successors. However, Torvalds has no plans to retire.
Ts'o, Hohndel and the man himself spill beans on how checks in the mail and GPL made it all possible If you know anything about Linux's history, you'll remember it all started with Linus Torvalds ...