Time changes perspectives remarkably. Disturbance and hostility between former rivals may soften to acceptance, as seen with Linus Torvalds, the Linux creator, and Microsoft. Recently, in a dinner hosted by Microsoft’s CTO, Mark Russinovich, Torvalds met Gates for the first time, without incident.

Torvalds has often criticized Microsoft’s past actions and the barriers of Windows, but the environment has notably shifted. As Microsoft embraces open-source more than in the era of former CEO Steve Ballmer, the old rivalries now feel less hostile.

Russinovich shared the news joyfully on LinkedIn: “I hosted a thrilling dinner featuring Bill Gates, Linus Torvalds, and David Cutler. No major kernel decisions were made, but who knows about the next dinner?”

It’s surprising that these tech icons hadn’t met earlier. Perhaps this encounter signals a gentle turn in the narrative surrounding tech competition.