Linus Torvalds once wrote the following message:
Hello everybody out there using minix -
I'm doing a (free) operating system (just a hobby, won't be big and professional like gnu) for 386(486) AT clones. This has been brewing since April, and is starting to get ready. I'd like any feedback on things people like/dislike in minix, as my OS resembles it somewhat (same physical layout of the file-system (due to practical reasons) among other things).
I've currently ported bash(1.08) and gcc(1.40), and things seem to work. This implies that I'll get something practical within a few months, and I'd like to know what features most people would want. Any suggestions are welcome, but I won't promise I'll implement them :-)
Linus (torvalds@kruuna.helsinki.fi)
It was Torvalds' first announcement that it would begin building a new operating system. This post was posted on the usenet comp.os.minix chat group, and was released on August 25, 1991. 29 years ago.
A student, her scienceof computers at University of Helsinki, could not purchase the Minix operating system for his school. So he tried to find a solution to his problem.
Since then it does exactly the same thing for Linux, it finds solutions.
Torvalds started developing his non-commercial operating system in 1991 while studying at the University of Helsinki. He was inspired by the Unix operating system Minix, and began developing the kernel that became known as the Linux kernel. Torvalds originally wrote programs which also ran on Minix until Linux reached a stage of development where the links between the two operating systems were no longer necessary.
Torvalds then decided to change the license, which until then did not allow redistribution for commercial purposes, making Linux available under the GNU GPL license.
So GNU found a kernel to work with, and Linux found a large library of programs ready. With its collaboration with GNU, Linux quickly surpassed Minix in popularity.
I don't think Torvalds at the time had any idea how important his project was. Its operating system is the foundation of the internet as we know it, it is their favorite operating system servers and Super computers. Or did he know?
Those who have used Linux know that it is something special.
I wish Linux 1000s, with a big thank you. August 25 should be dedicated to Linux and Torvalds.