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- 1. Pre-Linux Era (1960s-1991)
- 2. Birth of Linux (1991-1994)
- 3. Early Growth and Development (1994-2000)
- 4. Mainstream Adoption (2000-2010)
- 5. Modern Era (2010-Present)
1. Pre-Linux Era (1960s-1991):
To understand Linux, we need to start with UNIX, its predecessor:
- 1969: Ken Thompson and Dennis Ritchie at Bell Labs develop UNIX.
- 1973: UNIX is rewritten in C, making it more portable.
- 1983: Richard Stallman announces the GNU Project, aiming to create a free UNIX-like operating system.
- 1987: Andrew Tanenbaum creates MINIX, a simplified UNIX-like OS for educational purposes.
2. Birth of Linux (1991-1994):
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August 25, 1991: Linus Torvalds, a Finnish computer science student, announces his project on the comp.os.minix newsgroup:
"I'm doing a (free) operating system (just a hobby, won't be big and professional like gnu) for 386(486) AT clones."
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September 17, 1991: Torvalds releases Linux 0.01, the first version.
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1992: Linux is relicensed under the GNU General Public License (GPL).
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1993: Over 100 developers are working on the Linux kernel.
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1994: Linux 1.0 is released, featuring a complete operating system.
3. Early Growth and Development (1994-2000):
- 1995: Linux is ported to the DEC Alpha and Sun SPARC architectures.
- 1996: Linux 2.0 is released, adding support for multiple processors.
- 1998: Major companies like IBM, Compaq, and Oracle announce support for Linux.
- 1999: Red Hat and VA Linux go public, demonstrating Linux's commercial potential.
4. Mainstream Adoption (2000-2010):
- 2000: IBM announces it will invest $1 billion in Linux development.
- 2003: Linux 2.6 is released, greatly improving scalability and performance.
- 2005: Linus Torvalds creates Git, a version control system, to manage Linux kernel development.
- 2007: Major smartphone manufacturers begin adopting Linux-based Android.
- 2008: Linux is used in 60% of web servers worldwide.
5. Modern Era (2010-Present):
- 2011: Linux 3.0 is released, mainly as a time-based release.
- 2015: Linux 4.0 introduces live kernel patching.
- 2019: Microsoft releases Windows Subsystem for Linux 2 (WSL 2), integrating Linux more deeply with Windows.
- 2020: Linux 5.10 is designated as a Long Term Support (LTS) release.
- 2021: Linux celebrates its 30th anniversary.
- 2023: Linux 6.x series continues to evolve, focusing on improved hardware support and security features.
Current State (as of 2024):
Linux has become ubiquitous in many areas:
- Powers most of the world's supercomputers
- Dominates the server market
- Forms the basis of Android, the most popular mobile OS
- Widely used in embedded systems and IoT devices
- Gaining traction in desktop environments, especially among developers and tech enthusiasts
Key Factors in Linux's Success:
- Open-source model: Allowing anyone to view, modify, and distribute the source code.
- Modular design: Enabling easy customization and adaptation.
- Community development: Leveraging global talent and diverse perspectives.
- Corporate adoption: Major tech companies investing in and supporting Linux.
- Versatility: Used in everything from embedded systems to supercomputers.
The Linux kernel continues to evolve rapidly, with new versions released approximately every 9-10 weeks. It remains a collaborative effort, with thousands of developers worldwide contributing to its development.
Linux has grown from a hobby project to a critical component of the global technology infrastructure, demonstrating the power of open-source development and community collaboration.