Valve Picks Up Another Key Linux Developer

Things appear to be moving along nicely in the Linux cabal at Valve Software as they work to enable Steam and the Source Engine on the Linux desktop. Here's another one of the new tenured Linux developers that will be starting soon.

Back in May I shared one of the new Valve Linux developers that I previously recruited for the company: Forest Hale, a.k.a. the lead developer of the open-source game engine (DarkPlaces) used by the open-source Nexuiz and Xonotic. See the aforelinked article for more details and on their Linux hiring efforts.

Their latest Linux developer they have hired that I originally referred to Valve Software for hiring is David White. David White was the original creator of the open-source Battle for Wesnoth game. He's now going to work for Valve on their Linux efforts.

White founded Wesnoth back in 2003 while also having worked as a software engineer at Google and most recently serving as a senior software engineer at Sabre Holdings. The creator of this open-source turn-based strategy game will soon be joining the Valve Linux team in Bellevue. (Update: It's also worth mentioning that White is the founder of the Frogatto project as well.)

Valve continues to be interviewing other Linux developers I have referred to the company. If you're a very well qualified Linux developer and wouldn't mind living in the Seattle area while working for one of the best game companies, contact me. If your work is very well known, your Linux accomplishments have been covered in the past eight years on Phoronix, or has similar experience that could benefit Valve, I'd be happy to get you in contact with their growing Linux team. They just aren't looking for OpenGL and game developers but anyone with Linux experience across the board.

So does anyone still doubt Valve's Linux client efforts? Expect it this year as said by Gabe. Valve has lots of amazing Linux stuff in the pipe!

As said in the earlier article, "For those that may be mad that this (closed-source) game company has poached the lead of one of the most impressive open-source game engines out there and continue to go after more all-star Linux developers, it shouldn't be too concerning. I wouldn't be referring these important open-source contributors if I thought Valve was just using it as a crude way to kill open-source software or in the secret pocket of Microsoft. I'm very confident in Valve and their Linux intentions; the impact of their work can greatly benefit the entire Linux ecosystem in huge ways. Whether you're a Linux gamer or not, it's to everyone's benefit that Valve's striking Linux work is steaming with greatness."

This is just the latest in a series of many exclusive Phoronix articles about Valve's products coming to the Linux gaming desktop.