# Sam Hocevar

> French software and video game developer

**Wikidata**: [Q3176866](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q3176866)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sam_Hocevar)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/sam-hocevar

## Summary
Sam Hocevar is a French computer scientist, programmer, and software engineer best known for his contributions to open-source software, including the creation of the WTFPL license and his leadership in the Debian project. He is recognized for his work in computer science, artificial intelligence, and video game development.

## Biography
- Born: August 5, 1978, in Forbach, France
- Nationality: French
- Education:
  - Doctor of Philosophy in Computer Science, Télécom Paris (2003–2006)
  - Master of Science in Mechatronics, École Centrale Paris (1997–2002)
  - Lycée Fabert
- Known for: Creating the WTFPL license and serving as Debian project leader
- Employer(s): Debian project (2000–2022)
- Field(s): Computer science, software engineering, artificial intelligence

## Contributions
Sam Hocevar is best known for his work in open-source software and the Debian project. He created the WTFPL (Do What The Fuck You Want To Public License), a permissive software license that allows users to do anything they want with the licensed work. Hocevar served as a Debian developer from 2000 to 2022 and held the position of Debian project leader. His contributions to the Debian project have been significant, helping to shape one of the most influential Linux distributions. Additionally, Hocevar has worked in the field of artificial intelligence, contributing to the development of software that enables machines to exhibit intelligent behavior. His work spans across various domains, including video game development, where he has made notable contributions.

## FAQs
### Q: What is Sam Hocevar known for?
A: Sam Hocevar is known for creating the WTFPL license and his leadership in the Debian project, where he served as a developer and project leader.

### Q: Where was Sam Hocevar educated?
A: Hocevar earned a Doctor of Philosophy in Computer Science from Télécom Paris and a Master of Science in Mechatronics from École Centrale Paris.

### Q: What is the WTFPL license?
A: The WTFPL (Do What The Fuck You Want To Public License) is a permissive software license created by Sam Hocevar that allows users to do anything they want with the licensed work.

### Q: What is Sam Hocevar's nationality?
A: Sam Hocevar is French.

### Q: What fields does Sam Hocevar work in?
A: Hocevar works in computer science, software engineering, and artificial intelligence.

## Why They Matter
Sam Hocevar's contributions to open-source software and the Debian project have had a lasting impact on the software development community. His creation of the WTFPL license has provided developers with a simple and permissive option for licensing their work, promoting freedom and flexibility in software development. As a leader in the Debian project, Hocevar has helped shape one of the most widely used Linux distributions, influencing countless developers and users worldwide. His work in artificial intelligence and video game development further demonstrates his versatility and expertise in the field of computer science.

## Notable For
- Creating the WTFPL (Do What The Fuck You Want To Public License)
- Serving as a Debian developer and project leader (2000–2022)
- Earning a Doctor of Philosophy in Computer Science from Télécom Paris
- Contributing to the field of artificial intelligence
- Developing video games and software

## Body
### Early Life and Education
Sam Hocevar was born on August 5, 1978, in Forbach, France. He attended Lycée Fabert before pursuing higher education. Hocevar earned a Master of Science in Mechatronics from École Centrale Paris (1997–2002) and a Doctor of Philosophy in Computer Science from Télécom Paris (2003–2006).

### Career and Contributions
Hocevar is best known for his work in open-source software and the Debian project. He served as a Debian developer from 2000 to 2022 and held the position of Debian project leader. His contributions to the Debian project have been significant, helping to shape one of the most influential Linux distributions.

In addition to his work with Debian, Hocevar created the WTFPL (Do What The Fuck You Want To Public License), a permissive software license that allows users to do anything they want with the licensed work. This license has been widely adopted in the open-source community for its simplicity and flexibility.

Hocevar has also made contributions to the field of artificial intelligence, working on software that enables machines to exhibit intelligent behavior. His work spans across various domains, including video game development, where he has made notable contributions.

### Personal Life
Hocevar resides in Paris, France. He is active on various social media platforms, including Twitter, GitHub, and Reddit, where he engages with the software development community.

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  "birthDate": "1978-08-05",
  "birthPlace": "Forbach, France",
  "alumniOf": [
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## References

1. [Source](https://www.crunchbase.com/person/samuel-hocevar)
2. [Source](http://stackoverflow.com/users/111461/sam-hocevar)
3. [Source](https://github.com/SamHocevar)
4. [Source](https://nm.debian.org/person/sho/)
5. LinkedIn
6. [Source](http://programmers.stackexchange.com/questions/134687/which-is-the-most-permissive-open-source-license)
7. [Source](http://codingthings.com/category/open-source/)
8. [Source](http://blog.sylvaincombes.com/)
9. Freebase Data Dumps. 2013