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Linux kernel

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Revision as of 14:40, 13 July 2009 by Gesslein (talk | changes) (remove latest release info, since this is not maintained here.)
Linux
Original author(s)Linus Torvalds
Developer(s)Linus Torvalds (author) and Andrew Morton. Thousands of collaborators
Initial release1991, 33–34 years ago
Repository
Written inC
Operating systemLinux
Available inEnglish
TypeKernel
LicenseGNU General Public License version 2 (only)
Websitewww.kernel.org

Linux is an operating system kernel used by a family of Unix-like operating systems. These are known by many people as Linux operating systems and the name is also used for the various Linux distributions built on top of the operating system.

The Linux kernel is released under the GNU General Public License version 2 (GPLv2) and developed by programmers worldwide, Linux is one of the best known examples of open source software.[1]

History

In April 1991, Linus Torvalds, then 21 years old, started working on some simple ideas for an operating system. Then, on 25 August 1991, Torvalds posted to comp.os.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).[2] ”

After that, many people contributed code to the project. By September 1991, Linux version 0.01 was released. It had 10,239 lines of code. In October 1991, Linux version 0.02 was released.[3]

A newsgroup alt.os.linux was started, and on January 19 1992, the first post to alt.os.linux was made.[4] On March 31 1992, alt.os.linux became comp.os.linux.[5]

The X Window System was soon moved to Linux. In March 1992, Linux version 0.95 was the first to be able of running X. This large version number jump (from 0.1x to 0.9x) was because of a feeling that a version 1.0 with no major missing parts will be released soon.

On March 14 1994, Linux 1.0.0 was released, with 176,250 lines of code. In March 1995, Linux 1.2.0 was released (310,950 lines of code).

Linus decided, on May 9 1996, to adopt Tux the penguin as mascot for Linux.

Version 2 of Linux, released on June 9, 1996, was a landmark. Strong development continued:

Licensing terms

Initially, Torvalds released Linux under a license which did not allow anyone to sell it. This was soon changed to the GNU General Public License (GPL), during version 0.12. This license allows distribution and sale of possibly modified and unmodified versions of Linux but requires that all those copies be released under the same license and be accompanied by the complete corresponding source code.

Torvalds has said licensing Linux under the GPL as the "best thing I ever did."[7]

See also

References

  1. ↑ Linus Torvalds (2006-09-25). "Re: GPLv3 Position Statement".
  2. ↑ Torvalds, Linus Benedict. "What would you like to see most in minix?". Newsgroup: comp.os.minix. 1991Aug25.205708.9541@klaava.Helsinki.FI.
  3. ↑ Torvalds, Linus Benedict. "Free minix-like kernel sources for 386-AT". Newsgroup: comp.os.minix. 1991Oct5.054106.4647@klaava.Helsinki.FI.
  4. ↑ Summers, David W (19 January 1992). "Troubles with Partitions". Newsgroup: comp.os.minix. 1992Jan19.085628.18752@cseg01.uark.edu. Retrieved 2008-08-18. {{cite newsgroup}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  5. ↑ Clegg, Alan B (31 March 1992). "It's here!". Newsgroup: comp.os.linux. 1992Mar31.131811.19832@rock.concert.net. Retrieved 2008-08-18. {{cite newsgroup}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  6. ↑ "Linux Kernel Data."
  7. ↑ Yamagata, Hiroo (1997). "The Pragmatist of Free Software". HotWired. Archived from the original on 2007-04-14. Retrieved 2008-08-18.

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