In 1991, Linus Torvalds, a student at the University of Helsinki, was studying Minix, a Unix-based operating system created by Andrew Tanenbaum as an educational tool. Although Minix was a valuable learning resource, Torvalds found its limitations frustrating.
On August 25, 1991, Torvalds posted a message in the comp.os.minix newsgroup:
Hello everybody out there using minix -
I'm doing a (free) operating system (just a hobby, won't be big and professional like gnu) for 386(486) AT clones. This has been brewing since April, and is starting to get ready. I'd like any feedback on things people like/dislike in Minix, as my OS resembles it somewhat (same physical layout of the file-system (due to practical reasons) among other things).
I've currently ported bash(1.08) and gcc(1.40), and things seem to work. This implies that I'll get something practical within a few months, and I'd like to know what features most people would want. Any suggestions are welcome, but I won't promise I'll implement them :-)
Linus (torvalds@kruuna.helsinki.fi)
PS. Yes - it's free of any minix code, and it has a multi-threaded fs. It is NOT portable (uses 386 task switching etc.), and it probably never will support anything other than AT-harddisks, as that's all I have :-(.
This post marked the beginning of a new operating system. Torvalds conducted an open survey among Minix users, asking them what they found lacking in the system. He then announced the development of his own OS, a moment now recognized as the birth of Linux.
However, Torvalds himself considers September 17, 1991, as the true birth date of Linux. On that day, he uploaded the first release of Linux 0.01 to an FTP server and sent an email to those who had shown interest in his announcement and survey.
The Naming of Linux
Torvalds originally intended to name his kernel "Freax," a combination of the words "free," "freak," and "Unix." He also considered the now-familiar "Linux," but thought it seemed too egotistical. However, the FTP server administrator disagreed and renamed the project to Linux. Torvalds decided not to contest the change, and the name stuck.
The Open Source Legacy
From its inception to the present day, Linux has been distributed as free software under the GPL (General Public License). This means that the operating system's source code is open to any user, not just to view, but also to modify. Over its 33 years of existence, Linux’s codebase has grown from 10,000 lines to 35 million.
Today, Linux is recognized as a cornerstone of the open-source movement, empowering developers and organizations worldwide to innovate and collaborate.
A Legacy Continues
Linux turned 33 this year! While August 25 is traditionally celebrated as the birthday of Linux, Linus Torvalds himself counts from September 17—the day he first uploaded Linux 0.01 to an FTP server. The source code of this release still contains the word "Freaks," the original name Torvalds intended for his kernel.
The first official version, Linux 1.0, was released in 1994, and the Linux trademark was registered a year later in 1995.
For those interested in diving deeper, I recommend reading the collection of Linus Torvalds' early posts about his creation—a fascinating insight into the early days of what would become a global phenomenon.
Roman Burdiuzha
Cloud Architect | Co-Founder & CTO at Gart Solutions | Specializing in DevOps & Cloud Solutions
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