History of Linux

Introduction

Linux is a Unix-like operating system kernel first released by Linus Torvalds on September 17, 1991. It has grown to be one of the most popular and widely used operating systems in the world.

Early History

The history of Linux dates back to 1991 when Linus Torvalds, a Finnish computer science student, began working on a free operating system kernel as a hobby.

Note: Linux is often referred to as a "kernel," while the entire operating system, including the kernel, GNU tools, and other components, is referred to as "Linux" or "GNU/Linux."

Kernel Development

Linus released the first version of the Linux kernel (0.01) on a newsgroup called comp.os.minix. The kernel was developed with contributions from many developers around the world.

Key Milestones

1991: Linux 0.01 released.
1992: Linux 0.95 becomes the first version to support the GNU Public License (GPL).
1994: Linux 1.0 is released, marking the transition to a more stable version.

Linux Distributions

Various distributions (distros) of Linux emerged, tailored for different use cases. Some popular distributions include:

Debian
Red Hat
Ubuntu
Fedora
Arch Linux

Modern Linux

Today, Linux is widely used in servers, desktops, embedded devices, and supercomputers. It is known for its stability, security, and flexibility.

Tip: Major companies like Google, Facebook, and Amazon use Linux as their backbone operating system.

FAQ

What is Linux?

Linux is an open-source operating system kernel, which can be used to build a complete operating system.

Who created Linux?

Linux was created by Linus Torvalds in 1991.

What are Linux distributions?

Linux distributions are different versions of Linux that package the Linux kernel with software and tools for various purposes.