The birth of Linux

In 1991, the GNU project has developed a number of tools. The most anticipated Gnu C compiler has appeared, but has not yet developed a free GNU operating system. Even MINIX started to have copyright and needs to be purchased to get the source code. The GNU operating system HURD has been under development, but it cannot be completed in a few years. For Linus · Tovarz, can't wait.

In April 1991, he began to brew and set up his own operating system. At the beginning, his purpose was simple, just to learn the programming techniques of the Intel 386 architecture protection mode. But then the development of Linux completely changed its original intention. In early 1991, Linus · Tovarz began learning the minix operating system on a 386sx compatible microcomputer. Through learning, he gradually could not satisfy the existing performance of the minix system, and began to develop a new free operating system. According to Linux's announcement on the comp.os.minix newsgroup, you can see the process of learning from the minix system to developing your own Linux.

Starting in April 1991, Linus · Tovarz spent almost all of his time researching the 386-minix system (hack the kernel) and trying to port GNU software to the system (GNU) Gcc, bash, qbd, etc.). On April 13, 1991, I posted on comp.os.minix that I had successfully ported bash to minix, and I couldn't help but leave the shell software. On July 3, 1991, the first Linux-related message was posted on comp.os.minix (of course, the name Linux was not present at the time, when Linus · Tovarz thought It may be FREAX, the English meaning of FREAX is grotesque, monster, whimsical, etc.). It revealed that he is developing Linux systems, and at the beginning of Linux, he had thought of achieving compatibility with POSIX.

On August 25, 1991, in the next announcement of Linus · Tovarz, he asked all minix users "What would you like to see in minix?" "What do you most want to see in minix?"), in the news he revealed for the first time that he is developing a free i386 operating system, and said that it is just an interest, the code will not be very large, and it will not be like GNU. So professional. The idea of ​​developing a free operating system has been brewing since April. I hope that you can give feedback on what features you like and what you don't like in the minix system. For practical and other reasons, the newly developed system is just like the minix. (and using minix's file system), and bash (version 1.08) and gcc (version 1.40) have been successfully ported to the new system and will be available in a few months. Linus · Tovarz stated that the operating system he developed did not use a line of minix source code; and because of the task switching feature of i386, the operating system is not portable (no portability) and can only be used AT hard drive. For Linux portability issues, Linus · Tovarz did not consider it at the time. But Linux can run on almost any hardware architecture. On October 5, 1991, Linus · Towaz released a message on the comp.os.minix newsgroup, officially announcing the birth of the Linux kernel system (Free minix-like kernel sources for 386-AT).