1.1 - Linux History - CodeGig - For Coding Gig's!

History of Linux

With GNU (GNU is not UNIX)
Richard Stallman made the initial announcement in 1983, Free Software Foundation (FSF) got formed during 1984
Volunteer driven GNU started developing multiple projects, but making it as an operating system was always a challenge
During 1991 a Finnish Engineer Linus Torvalds developed core OS functionality, called it as “Linux Kernel”
Linux Kernel got licensed under GPL, which laid strong platform for the success of Open Source, Rest is history!

Multiple Linux distributions started emerging around the Kernel
Some applications became platform independent
Community driven software development started picking up
Initially seen as a “geek-phenomenon”, eventually turned out to be an engineering marvel
Centered around Internet
Building a business around open source started becoming viable
Redhat set the initial trend in the OS business

Open Source Software.	Freeware Software
1. Users have the right to access & modify the source codes	1. Freeware is usually distributed in a form of binary at ‘Free of Charge’, but does not open source codes itself.
2. In case original programmer disappeared, users & developer group of the Software, usually keep its support to the Software.	2. Developer of freeware could abandon development at any time and then final version will be the last version of the freeware. No enhancements will be made by others.
3. OSS usually has the strong users & developers group that manage and does maintains the project.	3. Possibility of changing its licensing policy.

Basic rights under the GPL – access to source code, right to make derivative works
Reciprocity/Copy-left
Purpose is to increase amount of publicly available software and ensure compatibility
Licensees have right to modify, use or distribute software, and to access the source code