Linux Turns 34
On the occasion of its 34th anniversary, Linux, the open-source operating system, is being celebrated for its creation by Finnish computer science student Linus Benedict Torvalds on August 25, 1991. The OS, which began as a personal project for Torvalds, was first announced in the comp.os.minix newsgroup as ‘Freax’—a portmanteau of Free, and X—but was ultimately named ‘Linux’ by a colleague at the last minute. Torvalds detailed his work on a new kernel for Intel 386 and 486 systems, emphasizing features such as a multithreaded file system and the absence of Minix code. However, the initial code was Intel x86 specific and not portable. The first version of Linux, 0.01, was released on September 17, 1991, although the name change from Freax to Linux was made on that date.
This pivotal moment not only marked the beginning of a revolutionary operating system but also set the stage for the collaborative open-source movement that Linux would inspire over the decades. Linux’s development was initially driven by Torvalds’ hobby project, with the aim of creating a free and open operating system that could run on Intel x86 architecture. The announcement of his project was made in the comp.os.minix newsgroup, where Torvalds sought feedback from the Minix community on the new OS. He explained that his project was a personal endeavor, and that it would not be a commercial product. He emphasized that the OS would be ‘just a hobby,’ and that it would not be ‘big and professional like GNU.’ Despite these humble beginnings, Linux quickly gained traction, with developers from around the world contributing to its development. Today, Linux is used in a wide range of devices, from servers and supercomputers to mobile phones and embedded systems. It has become a cornerstone of the open-source movement, and is used by millions of people worldwide.
The name change from Freax to Linux was a pivotal moment in the history of the OS. While Torvalds had preferred the name Freax, his colleague, who was the administrator for the project’s FTP server, decided to upload the OS as ‘Linux’ on September 17, 1991. This decision was made on the spot, and it marked the beginning of Linux’s journey as a free and open operating system. The name change was likely based on the fact that the project had received significant contributions from other developers, and that the OS was now being developed as a collaborative effort rather than a personal project. Today, Linux continues to evolve, with new versions and features being released regularly. It is a testament to the power of collaboration and open-source development, and has become an important part of the technology industry. As Linux approaches its 34th anniversary, it is a reminder of the impact that open-source development can have on the world of technology.