Swimming with the Poets
Interview – Meet Jim Zemlin

Jim Zemlin has directed the Linux Foundation since 2007, when the foundation began with the merger of the Open Source Development Labs (OSDL) and the Free Standards Group (FSG). Today the Linux Foundation has gone beyond Linux and become a huge umbrella that houses many open source projects that are critical to our economy and society.
Jim Zemlin has directed the Linux Foundation since 2007, when the foundation began with the merger of the Open Source Development Labs (OSDL) and the Free Standards Group (FSG). Today the Linux Foundation has gone beyond Linux and become a huge umbrella that houses many open source projects that are critical to our economy and society.
To celebrate the 25th anniversary of Linux, I sat down with Zemlin for a 40 minute interview. He is very humble and doesn't like to talk much about himself. However, since we have known each other for such a long time, he opened up a bit. Here is the edited version of that exclusive interview with Jim Zemlin.
Linux Magazine: Can you tell us a bit about your childhood and your exposure to computers? What kind of technical background do you have?
[...]
Buy this article as PDF
(incl. VAT)
Buy Linux Magazine
Subscribe to our Linux Newsletters
Find Linux and Open Source Jobs
Subscribe to our ADMIN Newsletters
Support Our Work
Linux Magazine content is made possible with support from readers like you. Please consider contributing when you’ve found an article to be beneficial.

News
-
OpenMandriva Lx 6.0 Available for Installation
The latest release of OpenMandriva has arrived with a new kernel, an updated Plasma desktop, and a server edition.
-
TrueNAS 25.04 Arrives with Thousands of Changes
One of the most popular Linux-based NAS solutions has rolled out the latest edition, based on Ubuntu 25.04.
-
Fedora 42 Available with Two New Spins
The latest release from the Fedora Project includes the usual updates, a new kernel, an official KDE Plasma spin, and a new System76 spin.
-
So Long, ArcoLinux
The ArcoLinux distribution is the latest Linux distribution to shut down.
-
What Open Source Pros Look for in a Job Role
Learn what professionals in technical and non-technical roles say is most important when seeking a new position.
-
Asahi Linux Runs into Issues with M4 Support
Due to Apple Silicon changes, the Asahi Linux project is at odds with adding support for the M4 chips.
-
Plasma 6.3.4 Now Available
Although not a major release, Plasma 6.3.4 does fix some bugs and offer a subtle change for the Plasma sidebar.
-
Linux Kernel 6.15 First Release Candidate Now Available
Linux Torvalds has announced that the release candidate for the final release of the Linux 6.15 series is now available.
-
Akamai Will Host kernel.org
The organization dedicated to cloud-based solutions has agreed to host kernel.org to deliver long-term stability for the development team.
-
Linux Kernel 6.14 Released
The latest Linux kernel has arrived with extra Rust support and more.