How Linux born? Is it coming from Unix? Here is a brief Linux history timeline.
Let’s Start.
1968
E.W. Dijkstra develops MULTICS (Multiplexed Information and Computing Service), a time-sharing operating system in the Netherlands.
Source: Wikipedia
1968
Bell Telephone (AT&T) lab researcher Ken Thompson developed a new system using MULTICS. His co-worker Brian Kernigham dubbed it UNICS(Uniplexed Information and Computing Service).
1968
UNICS later changed to UNIX.
Milestone
The UNIX operating system was born.
Source: logodix.com
1969 – 1973
Bell Telephone researcher Dennis Ritchie develops the C language as a systems programming language for UNIX.
1970s
UNIX versions 6 and 7 were developed, first in B and Assembly then C. At first UNIX built for academic purpose only. But later it was sold to vendors.
1970s
Richard Stallman announced about the development of GNU Project(GNU’s Not Unix!).
1987
Andrew S. Tanenbaum develops MINIX, a Unix like system based on a microkernel architecture. MINIX first developed for the educational purpose, later the development focuses on building a highly reliable microkernel OS.
1980s – 1990s
The “Unix Wars” occur. Vendors struggle to standardize UNIX.
1990
GNU’s own kernel, The Hurd, was developed.
1991
Linus Torvalds while studying at the University of Helsinki, started development of the Linux kernal based on MINIX, applications on MINIX also used in linux.
source: torvalds-family.blogspot.com
1991
Linux matured. Developers decided to continue development of Linux kernal on Linux systems. Also all MINIX applications get replaced by GNU components.
A fully functional and free operating system developed using GNU software and the Linux kernel.
Milestone
Linux was born.
Some people call it “GNU/Linux” or simply “Linux”. There is a controversy with the name.
1990s – Today
Various UNIX like operating systems or Linux distributions are released, such as; OSX, Debian and Ubuntu.
Currently there are many linux distributions built by developers but, Ubuntu is one the most popular linux distributions for desktop users worldwide.
