Linux History
SOME LINUX HISTORY AND INFO
The Linux kernel was developed by Linus Torvolds in April 1991. By September 1991, Linux version 0.01 was released. It had 10,239 lines of code. Linus wanted to make this new kernel available to anyone who wanted to use, further develop, modify, redistribute, etc so he licensed it under the GNU (general public license). Unlike proprietary, closed computer operating systems like Windows or Mac, which are legally prohibited by their license from any outside development, modifications, improvements, etc. unless authorized. As of December 2008, The Linux kernel version 2.6.28 was released with 10,195,402 lines of code. As open source, under the GNU license, the code of the current Linux kernel has gained 10,185,163, or 10.2 million lines of code mostly by volunteer programmer's efforts to benefit everyone who will take the time to learn, use, and possibly contribute back to it!!!
So back to Linux...The kernel is the "guts" of the computer operating system interfacing with and controlling the hardware and communicating with the operating system. The visual part you see on your monitor is just a small part of the actual operating system and is referred to as the GUI, or (graphical user interface).
The term, "Linux" is improperly used as a generic term, for "Linux operating system" ....When more accurately, its the kernal of the operating system. Saying you have Linux is also kind of like saying you have "Windows" on your computer, but which version, Windows 95, Windows XP, Vista Windows 7? Linux based operating system versions are referred to as "distros", or "distributions", which there are currently around 300 active, and many available inactive distros still available. Most Linux distros are FOSS (Free and open source software) free...as in NO CHARGE, just download and use it!!! There are also a few distros such as RedHat and Suse Linux that you have to pay for, but they are mostly marketed towards business use, and offer a free version called Fedora and Open Suse respectively. Today, Linux based operating systems power most of the demanding server market: Google, Wikipedia, IBM, NASA, etc. As of 2007, Google's server farm alone had around 450,000 custom built Linux servers.
The Linux kernel was developed by Linus Torvolds in April 1991. By September 1991, Linux version 0.01 was released. It had 10,239 lines of code. Linus wanted to make this new kernel available to anyone who wanted to use, further develop, modify, redistribute, etc so he licensed it under the GNU (general public license). Unlike proprietary, closed computer operating systems like Windows or Mac, which are legally prohibited by their license from any outside development, modifications, improvements, etc. unless authorized. As of December 2008, The Linux kernel version 2.6.28 was released with 10,195,402 lines of code. As open source, under the GNU license, the code of the current Linux kernel has gained 10,185,163, or 10.2 million lines of code mostly by volunteer programmer's efforts to benefit everyone who will take the time to learn, use, and possibly contribute back to it!!!
So back to Linux...The kernel is the "guts" of the computer operating system interfacing with and controlling the hardware and communicating with the operating system. The visual part you see on your monitor is just a small part of the actual operating system and is referred to as the GUI, or (graphical user interface).
The term, "Linux" is improperly used as a generic term, for "Linux operating system" ....When more accurately, its the kernal of the operating system. Saying you have Linux is also kind of like saying you have "Windows" on your computer, but which version, Windows 95, Windows XP, Vista Windows 7? Linux based operating system versions are referred to as "distros", or "distributions", which there are currently around 300 active, and many available inactive distros still available. Most Linux distros are FOSS (Free and open source software) free...as in NO CHARGE, just download and use it!!! There are also a few distros such as RedHat and Suse Linux that you have to pay for, but they are mostly marketed towards business use, and offer a free version called Fedora and Open Suse respectively. Today, Linux based operating systems power most of the demanding server market: Google, Wikipedia, IBM, NASA, etc. As of 2007, Google's server farm alone had around 450,000 custom built Linux servers.
