The Idea Behind Linux
The Linux operating system (or Linux Kernel code to be precise) was created by Linux Torvalds in 1991, although it was in effect an extension of earlier work carried out by Richard Stallman in 1983, when he introduced the GNU Project, which formed the basis of the Linux open source operating system (which is itself a variation of the Unix operating system).
In simple terms, Kernel code is the inner most workings of an operating system, the code which dictates how the computer interacts with software, memory and various devices such as disk drives, etc. The Kernel code is also vital for securing any computer/network, etc from unauthorized access.
There is now a mass of various Linux distributions (i.e. different variations of the operating system) which can be developed and adapted to suit almost any situation. One of the great attractions of the code is the ease with which it can be configured to various systems, etc. This has allowed the creation of a multi-million dollar Linux Distribution industry, which is ironically centered around a piece of open source code (free).
While an ever popular source of code for system developers around the world, there have been a number of events which have increased the profile of the system, including:
- The release of the Netscape Browser in 1998, which was closely associated with the open source Mozilla Firefox browser.
- Sun Microsystems’s decision in June 2000 to base their new StarOffice system around the Linux operating system.
- IBM’s 2005 decision to employ 300 developers to the Linux system to create a vast array of distributions for the open market.
As with any successful product, especially one which has been created with non-profitability in mind, there have been a number of legal challenges regarding the original concept, and ownership of the code. These actions have so far been unsuccessful, and the Linux operating system is going from strength to strength as new improved versions appear on a regular basis.
Whatever your requirements, there is sure to be a developer who will specialize in a solution - it is just a matter of wading through the many distributions available to find a meaningful solution.