Following a self-imposed break, Linux creator Linux Torvalds appears to be back leading the operating system's development.
His return was announced on Monday in an email to the Linux community from kernel chief Greg Kroah-Hartman, who took over the OS's development in September. "And with that, Linus, I'm handing the kernel tree back to you," Kroah-Hartman wrote in an email regarding the Linux 4.19 release.
Torvalds took time off to address his nasty habit of berating other programmers over contributions to Linux, which is open source. Last year, more than 1,600 developers from 225 companies submitted code to the Linux kernel. However, Torvalds has been quick to call out faulty contributions to the software.
"Guys, this is not a dick-sucking contest," he wrote in one email to the Linux community back in 2013. He also famously flipped off Nvidia for omitting graphics card hardware drivers in Linux's open-source code.
Torvalds had long defended the acerbic practice, saying in 2013 he refused to "fake politeness" and sugarcoat his critiques. But last month, the Linux creator said his behavior was becoming toxic and alienating programmers from the open-source software's development.
"I am going to take time off and get some assistance on how to understand people's emotions and respond appropriately," he wrote in an email to the Linux community. Days later The New Yorker published an article about Torvalds' behavior and how it allegedly discouraged women from working as Linux kernel programmers.
Torvalds' break only lasted 36 days. He and Kroah-Hartman did not immediately respond to a request for comment over how Torvalds might lead Linux differently going forward. However, the two decided to add a new code of conduct into the latest Linux release that's designed to stop developers from engaging in online abuse.
In his email on Monday, Kroah-Hartman said the code of conduct was added to create a "more welcome community" to new Linux contributors and to ensure that everyone is treated with respect and dignity. The new code specifically bans trolling, personal or political attacks and unwelcome sexual attention or advances in Linux project spaces. A code of conduct committee will review and take action against any filed complaints.
Still, the new rules haven't been without controversy. Critics on Reddit question whether the code of conduct can be used to censor Linux contributors for expressing controversial opinions. Kroah-Hartman alluded to this in his email. "These past few months has been a tough one for our community, as it is our community that is fighting from within itself, with prodding from others outside of it," he said.
However, Kroah-Hartman said he's hopeful the community will move on from the in-fighting and focus on Linux's development. "We all share the same goal, let us never loose sight of that," he added.