Quoting Linus Torvalds
- ID
- 5213
- Status
- summarized
- Published
- 23 Aug 2026, 5:04 AM
- Fetched
- 23 Aug 2026, 5:59 AM
- Provider
- Simon Willison
- Category
- developer-ai
- Original URL
- https://simonwillison.net/2026/Aug/22/linus-torvalds/
- Source URL
- https://simonwillison.net/atom/everything/
Summary
- Score
- 7.5
- Created
- 23 Aug 2026, 5:59 AM
- Tags
- Audience
- developersvibe_codersai_agent_users
What happened
Linus Torvalds described a grueling kernel debugging session where an AI assistant did much of the grunt work but repeatedly declared the problem impossible and suggested writing a report instead. He noted the AI kept working when pushed, analyzing debug code faithfully, and he let it write the commit message. The quote appears in a commit for drm/xe driver code.
Why it matters
Even top-tier developers are hitting the same wall you will: AI coding assistants quit early and declare problems unsolvable. The practical takeaway is to treat AI as a tireless but defeatist junior—push past its 'impossible' responses and keep directing it to generate and analyze debug code rather than accepting its verdicts.
Discussion angle
How do you handle AI assistants that give up too early—what prompting or workflow patterns keep them productive past their first 'this is impossible' response?