Linux is one of the most influential operating systems in the world, yet also one many people haven’t heard of and ultimately don’t realise they use. It powers servers, smartphones, supercomputers, and a whole host of everyday devices. Its story begins in the early 1990s and is an interesting read, having seen a shortened version on Facebook over the weekend I went digging.
Origins (1991)
Linux was first created in 1991 by Finnish computer science student Linus Torvalds at the University of Helsinki.
- Torvalds wanted a free operating system kernel similar to the Unix systems that was being used at universities at the time.
- He announced his project on an internet newsgroup, saying it was “just a hobby, won’t be big and professional.”
- The first version, Linux 0.01, was then released by Torvalds in September 1991.
The kernel was said to be inspired by the educational operating system MINIX, created by Andrew S. Tanenbaum.
The GNU Connection (1990s)
Linux became useful because it combined with software from the GNU Project, which was orginally started by Richard Stallman in 1983.
- GNU already provided tools like:
- compilers
- shell utilities
- text editors
- Linux provided the kernel, while GNU supplied many of the system tools.
Together they formed what many call GNU/Linux.
Rise of Linux Distributions
Developers began packaging Linux with software into distributions (distros).
Early and influential distributions include:
- Slackware (1993)
- Debian (1993)
- Red Hat Linux (1994)
Later popular distributions include:
- Ubuntu (2004)
- Fedora Linux
- Arch Linux
Each distro packages the Linux kernel with different tools, desktop environments, and package managers.
Enterprise and Internet Growth (2000s)
By the early 2000s, Linux became the dominant operating system of choice in servers and internet infrastructure.
Major companies supporting Linux include:
- IBM
- Red Hat
- Intel
Linux proved popular because it is:
- Free and open source
- Highly customisable
- Stable and secure
Today, most of the world’s web servers run Linux.
Linux in Mobile and Devices
Linux expanded far beyond desktops.
The most famous example is Android, created by Google in 2008.
Android uses a Linux kernel, making Linux the most widely used operating system kernel in the world.
Linux also powers:
- routers
- smart TVs
- cars
- embedded systems
- IoT devices
Linux Today
The position of where Linux finds itself today having started life as a hobby is highly imporessive! Linux now runs:
- All of the top 500 supercomputers in the world
- Most cloud computing infrastructure
- Platforms like Kubernetes and Docker
- Developer environments and servers worldwide
The kernel is still maintained in parts by it’s original creator Linus Torvalds, now with the support of thousands of contributors across the globe.
✅ In short:
Linux started as a student hobby in 1991 and grew into the backbone of modern computing.
