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TIL Linus Torvalds is a Scuba Diver (lemmy.dbzer0.com)
submitted 1 year ago by to c/foss@beehaw.org
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While looking for open source dive log applications on F-Droid (in preparation for my Advanced Open Water Certification) and I found an app called Subsurface and apparently it is as developed by none other than Linus Torvalds himself.

I also found this neat YouTube video of Dirk Hohndel talking about scuba diving with Linus.

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[–] 12 points 1 year ago (2 children)

While googling around to gather clues for reverse-engineering the protocol for a Garmin smart watch, I stumbled upon an e-mail on a listserv, discussing pieces of Garmin BT communication. Only after a while I noticed it had been written by Linus, who apparently worked on diving software.

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  • [–] [S] 6 points 1 year ago (1 child)

    You're telling me I can self host a garmin server?

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  • [–] 6 points 1 year ago

    If you are asking whether you can use Garmin Connect without Garmin, I don't think so. But you can use a different non-Garmin app with your watch, see https://gadgetbridge.org/ Obviously, it does not have the full functionality of Garmin, and even more obviously, you would lose the Garmin social functions without Garmin Connect (but there are open-source projects for that as well). (Also, with Garmin, maybe you will lose some of the functions anyway to the Garmin Connect+ subscription, right? :-) )

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    • [–] 10 points 1 year ago (1 child)

    Seems like this is the real git repository for subsurface.

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  • [–] [S] 9 points 1 year ago*

    Yes you're right. Idk how but I found Linus's forked repo first and saw on a couple websites that he did start the development for it.

    A bit of history:

    In fall of 2011, when a forced lull in kernel development gave him a chance to start a new project, Linux creator Linus Torvalds decided to tackle his frustration with the lack of decent divelog software on Linux.

    Linus worked with a team of developers, and Subsurface is the result. It now supports Linux, Windows and MacOS and allows data import from many dive computers and several existing divelog programs. It provides a quick and easy way to see the key information provided by a modern dive computer and lets users track a wide variety of data about their dives. In fall of 2012 Dirk Hohndel took over as Subsurface maintainer.

    License: GPLv2

    https://subsurface-divelog.org/

    https://www.deeperblue.com/scuba-meets-information-technology-with-linus-torvalds/

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    • [–] 6 points 1 year ago (1 child)

    I just saw an article saying Gabe Newell of Valve is obsessed with scuba diving. Must be something in the water.

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