Sad news from Ubuntu founder Mark Shuttleworth today: longtime Ubuntu and Debian contributor Steve Langasek has passed away.
In a touching post on the Ubuntu Discourse, Mark Shuttleworth shares: “Steve passed away at the dawn of 2025. His time was short but remarkable. He will forever remain an inspiration.”
“Judging by the outpouring of feelings this week, he is equally missed and mourned by colleagues and friends across the open source landscape, in particular in Ubuntu and Debian where he was a great mind, mentor and conscience.”
As a former Debian and Ubuntu release manager, and a long-term Canonical employee, Steve (who some of you may know by the handle vorlon) has been something of a cardinal fixture in the Ubuntu topology to many of us.
Heck, I’ve been doing this blog for something like 16 years now and his name has constant in my e-mail inboxes by way of the many mailing list posts, packaging update pings, bug reports, and other development updates it would be attached to.
Through his contributions to the discussions, debates, and (odd) dramas on Ubuntu mailing lists (and IRC, back in the day), I’ve learned a LOT. His deft technical explanations made the how of proposed changes understandable, while focused, non-marketing rationale answered the why.
For developers involved, his approach was sure to have been helpful. For a lay-person watching from the outside, less familiar with the interplay between components, projects, and communities, his approach was a veritable education.
Even in tense, emotionally-charged discussions Steve possessed an enviable patience and pro-active approach, remaining level-headed and laser-set on the technical side, not getting sidetracked by any personalities, politics, or prickly remarks.
He embodied Ubuntu as a quality
“I am what I am because of who we all are” is the idea conveyed by the word Ubuntu. Steve embodied that. As users of Ubuntu (directly) and Debian (indirectly), his contributions are something that touched each and everyone of us.
So there’s something worth holding on to during the sadness: for decades, Steve gave his time, expertise, and kindness to lift the Ubuntu, Debian, and wider FOSS communities; and his advice, mentorship and support helped lift the people who take part in it.
He passes leaving both people and projects he touched immeasurably better — open-source didn’t change the world due to companies, CEOs and stacks of corporate cash, but the kindness and generosity of human contributors like Steve Langasek.
As Mark Shuttleworth touches in his post conveying the loss: that so many people spread far across the Linux spectrum are sharing their sadness and their fondness speaks to the impact Steve made and to the warm legacy he leaves.
My thoughts go out to Steve’s family, his friends, his colleagues, and to everyone else who knew him.
Truly sad news.