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Early Years
Linus Torvald's grandfather, Leo Toerngivst (a professor at the University of Helsinki), buys a Commodore Vic 20. Torvalds develops an interest in playing with the machine but becomes bored with its limited programs. Torvalds would begin writing programs in BASIC and then in the more complex Assembly language. -
Sinclair QL
Interview About Sinclair QL
Torvalds obtained a Sinclair QL. The sinclair QL contained a Motorola 68008 processor that he soon became frustrated with because he could not freely modify the OS. -
Torvalds Enrolls to University of Helsinki
Torvalds enrolls to the University of Helsinki. He would graduate with a Master's Degree in Computer Science and importantly be exposed to UNIX and MINIX during his time here. He would begin developing what would become Linux as a student. -
Torvalds New Computer and Start of Linux
How Linux was Born
Torvalds buys a computer that features an Intel 386 Processor, DX33 and 4 MBs of RAM. This PC used MS-DOS but Torvalds knew that this OS did not take full advantage of his computer's hardware. Preferring the UNIX operating system on the University's computers, he set out to create his own. version of UNIX. -
"Hello everybody"
Hello everyone
Torvalds posts his famous "Hello everybody out there using minix", here he tells everyone about his project and what people would be interested in seeing in it. -
Linus' MINIX
Torvald's friend, Ari Lemmke, was an administrator for the FTP (file transfer protocol) services in Finland and was encouraging him to upload the source code for his OS to a network so it was available for tuning by other programmers. Linix (Linus' MINIX) was only the name Torvald's gave his OS while he was working on it as he thought the name sounded too vain. Lemmke however created a directory called Linux on the FTP server and thus it became known as such. -
Linux .02
Due to issues with other free operating systems in development, Torvald's project picks up a lot of support and he released version .02. Linux .02 was still very much dependent on MINIX however and was not yet a stand alone OS. -
General Public License
.12 Patch Notes
Linux copyright changes to the GNU copyleft and takes affect on the first of February, 1992. With this new liberal licensing, programmer around the world become excited to work on and help with Linux. Linux's performance begins improving at an unprecedented rate. -
Linus Runs Classes
Biography
As a result of Linus' skills and accomplishments with Linux, Torvalds begins running introductory computer laboratory exercises and put into a position where he can simultaneously continuje the development of Linux. -
Linux 1.0.0
History of Linux
Linux version 1.0.0 is released with 176,250 lines of code. The start of something amazing. -
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Linux's Evolution
Torvalds
Linux becomes a reliable and efficient system that competitors begin to take seriously. Netscape, Corel, Oracle, Intel and many other companies begin with plans to support Linux as an inexpensive alternative to Windows. Being free, its source code is open to anyone and it can be translated for different language versions to be distributed in markets that many other companies would not value. Localized versions of Linux become common in many non-Western regions. -
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Tux and Linux 2.0
Logo
History of Linux
The famous mascot for Linux, Tux, is created by Larry Ewing. 1996 also Marks the release of Linux 2.0. This version marked large improvements in performance and support for additional processors and symmetric multiprocessing. -
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Transmeta
About Linus Torvalds
Torvalds begins working for Transmeta and moves to California. Transmeta designed energy saving CPUs and Linus was interested in their work. Linus would continue to oversee development of Linux. -
Open Source Development Labs
About Linus Torvalds
Linus begins working for Open Source Development Labs, a conglomerate of other tech companies whose purpose is the promotion of Linux development. OSDL features companies such as IBM, Hewless-Packard, Intel, AMD and many more. In 2007 OSDL became the Linux Foundation. -
Linux Kernel 2.6
Linus Torvalds Biography
Interview with Linus Torvalds
By 2006, only about two percent of the Linux kernel has been written by Torvalds. Given the size, complexity and number of contributing programmers to Linux at this point, it is not surprising. -
Android
The OS Android's version 1.5 is released and is based on Linux kernal 2.6.27. Android operating systems would now be based on Linus Torvald's Linux kernals. Android would become one of the best selling OS on tablets and smartphones. -
Linux kernel 3.0
Linux 3.0 Release
Torvalds released Linux 3.0. There was no major changes for 3.0 in comparison to the previous build (2.6.39), but was done so in recognition of the kernel's 20th anniversary. -
Linux 4.1
Linux 4.1 Information
The latest build of Linux, 4.1, is released. Linus Torvald's small project has grown into one of the greatest examples of the results of open source software. Linux 4.1 has over 19.5 million lines of code with over ten thousand programmers contributing to it.
