Linus Benedict Torvalds (IPA-sv?li?n?s ?tu?rvalds-Sv-Linus_Torvalds2.ogg; born December 28, 1969 in Helsinki, Finland) is a Finnish (Finns) software engineer (software engineering) best known for having initiated the development of the Linux kernel and git (git (software)) revision control system. He later became the chief architect of the Linux kernel, and now acts as the projects coordinator.