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Celebrating 20 Years of Linux

Posted by Unknown on from the dirty-gnu-hippies dept.

dmbkiwi writes "2011 is the 20th anniversary of the first release of the Linux kernel by Linus Torvalds. Since that time, the Linux kernel, together with the GNU tools and a whole host of software has been developed by enthusiasts and professional programmers into an operating system that runs on tiny embedded systems right up to the world's fastest supercomputers." The Linux Foundation is hosting a celebratory gala at this year's LinuxCon.

6 of 193 comments (clear)

  1. Re:damnit guys by Hatta · · Score: 4, Informative

    GNU dates from 1983. This is just the Linux kernel's anniversary.

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  2. Re:damnit guys by PhilHibbs · · Score: 5, Informative

    Linux is a kernel, and it's called Linux, and it's not part of the GNU project. A distribution that includes the GNU tool set and the Linux kernel is a GNU/Linux distribution. This is not a story about a GNU/Linux distribution, it's a story about the kernel. If you're going to be pedantic, get it right.

  3. Re:damnit guys by Jonner · · Score: 4, Informative

    I realize this is probably an attempt at humor, but it's not funny and a lot people still seem to be confused about the issue. Linux is 20 years old, but GNU is 27 years old. There are complete operating systems based on GNU (and not Linux) as well as those based on Linux with very little or no GNU components. The term GNU/Linux only makes sense when one is talking about an operating system based on both of them, which is by far the most common way to use either one of them.

  4. Re:damnit guys by Bill_the_Engineer · · Score: 3, Informative

    The Free Software Foundation didn't create Linux. Linus Torvalds created Linux and decided to license his code with the GPL. This little fact is the main reason that I call Linux by "Linux" and not "GNU/Linux".

    The OS kernel that should be tagged with "GNU" is Hurd since it is actually being created by the FSF therefore it should be called "GNU Hurd".

    Before the flaming commences, I'd like to defend myself by saying that I promote GNU software in the workplace and support their hard work. I do have some minor ideological differences with RMS, but that doesn't stop me from using GNU software or supporting the FSF.

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  5. These things happen all too frequently by e9th · · Score: 4, Informative

    And in just 6 months, we'll all be celebrating the 15th anniversary of the first official release of OpenBSD.

  6. August 26, 1991 by bill_mcgonigle · · Score: 4, Informative

    That was the date of the birth announcement.

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