Linus Torvalds tries vibe coding, world still intact somehow - theregister.com

Linux creator Linus Torvalds has taken vibe coding for a spin, using Google's Antigravity LLM to help build a Python visualizer for AudioNoise, his new side project that generates random digital audio effects for a "random guitar pedal board".

Why it matters: Torvalds has staked out a pragmatic middle ground on AI coding assistants. In a recent on-stage chat at Open Source Summit Asia with Dirk Hohndel, he said vibe coding is fine for work that doesn't truly matter. His AudioNoise tinkering — including Raspberry Pi-driven audio effects — fits that bill: a fun, non-critical playground.

What he built: Torvalds says he has limited Python experience and typically learns by searching and imitating. This time, he let Antigravity handle much of the audio sample visualizer, effectively speeding up the "glue code" and experimentation.

The bigger picture: Support for LLM-assisted coding is growing across open source. Register columnist Mark Pesce highlights vibe coding as a path to highly personalized software, while Redis creator Salvatore "antirez" Sanfilippo cautions against anti-AI doom-saying. Torvalds, long known for blunt takes and high standards, is notably more measured here: use AI for low-stakes work, keep rigor for critical systems.

Beyond the kernel: Torvalds has a history of hobbyist projects, from custom guitar pedals (covered by The Register last year) to Subsurface, the SCUBA dive-logging app he co-wrote with Hohndel. Subsurface is a surprise to some because it uses Qt and C++.

Bootnote: The headline nod to "just for fun" echoes Torvalds' 2001 autobiography, co-written with David Diamond (of synthpop band Berlin). A scan lives on the Internet Archive.

Key takeaways:

• Torvalds tried vibe coding with Google's Antigravity LLM
• Used it to build a Python audio visualizer for his AudioNoise project
• Endorses AI coding assistants for non-critical, hobbyist work
• Broader open-source voices are also warming to LLM-assisted development

Source: https://www.theregister.com/2026/01/13/linus_torvalds_vibe_coding/