Computer Science 200 – TME/Unit 2 - Chapter 9: Operating Systems – Internet Research #3
Who created Linux, and for what purpose was it created?
August 1991 Linus Torvalds, a student at the University of Helsinki in Finland, released an operating system he called Linux available for free on the Internet. One of its contenders, Unix, was too expensive for many so Linux was definitely popular from the beginning. Linus actually created Linux as an improved alternative to Minix which was written by a dutch professor Tanenbaum. Minix mainly served as a teaching tool for students of computer programming. As Linus states in his posting on 25 August 91, to the Minix news group, “I’d like any feedback on things people like/dislike in minix, as my OS resembles it somewhat.”
The fact that his OS was free also represents a unique feature of his software in addition to it being further developed through collaborative efforts known as open-source software. This concept was initiated by Richard Stallman through the GNU Project. For a fun journey down memory lane you can view the History of Linux – Part I and Part II.
Image may be NSFW.
Clik here to view.
Source: http://www-mddsp.enel.ucalgary.ca/People/adilger/logo/0.0/logobig.jpg
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References:
- Anderson, G., Ferro, D., & Hilton, R. (2011). Connecting with Computer Science (2nd ed.). Boston, MA: Course Technology, Cengage Learning.
- http://www.minix3.org/
- http://www.ragibhasan.com/linux/
- http://www.sources.com/SSR/Docs/SSRW-GNU_Project.htm
- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AvfTZmecifc
- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=afISni_-Z5g
- http://www-mddsp.enel.ucalgary.ca/People/adilger/logo/0.0/logobig.jpg
Image may be NSFW.
Clik here to view.
Image may be NSFW.Clik here to view.
