Openness and noncredentialism made the work available to as many people as possible. Self-assignment meant that they worked on what they wanted, which typically turned out to be what Linux most needed. Verifiability ensured that only helpful contributions survived in the software, and clear outcomes kept people from feeling that they could be duped or their efforts hijacked. And dedicated geeky leadership from Torvalds and others maintained the ideals, culture, and momentum of Linux.
