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History And Development of Linux

By amlai
  • Rise of Unix

    Rise of Unix
    AT&T drops out of the Multics project and Unix was created by Dennis Ritchie and Ken Thompson. This language was later rewritten into the language, C, to make it portable.
  • Commercial Success

    Commercial Success
    Onyx Systems develops a microcomputer based Unix Workstation. Sun Microsystems also later sells a Unix based workstation using a project from Stanford University which will prove to be the first commercial success of a microcomputer that was based in Unix
  • The GNU

    The GNU
    Richard Stallman creates the GNU project to create a free UNIX based operating system, where he also writes the General Public License. However, the GNU kernel failed to reach its potential, leaving GNU incomplete.
  • Linus Torvalds

    Linus Torvalds
    While studying computer science at the University of Helsinki, Linus Torvalds perceived the idea of the Linux Kernel. He eventually would post to the comp.os.minix newsgroup, announcing his creation, and requesting for suggestions to add to the OS.
  • Linux

    Linux
    Torvalds published the Linux kernel under its own license, which would restrict the potential commercial activity. Much of the software needed to run the system is under the GNU copyleft, so Torvalds worked with GNU developers to use GNU properties to make Linux a fully functional and truly free OS.
  • A Hater

    A Hater
    Andrew S. Tanenbaum writes a Usenet article argues that the Linux system is outdated, sparking a well known debate about the Linux kernel at the time.
  • Tux

    Tux
    Torvalds announce that the Linux mascot would be a penguin, eventually named Tux.
  • Danger Approaching

    Danger Approaching
    Eric S. Raymond reveals a short essay written by a Microsoft developer that laid out possible threats to Microsoft by free software and potential strategies to counteract these threats.
  • GPLv2

    GPLv2
    Torvalds clarifies that the Linux kernel uses the GPLv2 license, which interestingly omits the all too common, "or later" clause.
  • The Open Source Development Lab

    The Open Source Development Lab
    The OSDL is created, and works towards optimizing Linux for commercial purposes. Torvalds works full time with OSDL, continuing to develop the Linux kernel
  • GPLv3

    GPLv3
    GPLv3 is released, but Torvalds and much of the developers on the Linux project decide to not adopt the new license.
  • Merge

    Merge
    The OSDL and the Free Standards Group merged, creating The Linux Foundation. Their focus changing to develop Linux in competition with Microsoft Windows.
  • Possible Improvements with Microsoft

    Possible Improvements with Microsoft
    Microsoft submits 22,000 lines of code to the Linux kernel. While this was seen as a start to an improvement in relations with Microsoft, there is evidence that shows Microsoft was compelled to contribute when a Linux Contributer discovered Microsoft incorporated a driver that utilized components that were GPL licensed.
  • Community

    Community
    Today, most of the work on Linux is by the expansive community. By this time, 80% of developers is on a salary.
  • Windows Azure

    Windows Azure
    SUSE creates a Linux kernel dedicated to the cloud computing applications under the Microsoft Azure project.