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2024-09-22 08:21:10

Linus Torvalds

Finnish-American software engineer and Linux creator
Finnish-American software engineer and Linux creator

Linus Torvalds, born in 1969, is the creator of Linux kernel and Git. He received the 2012 Millennium Technology Prize for his contributions to open source operating systems. Torvalds has also been honored with the 2014 IEEE Computer Pioneer Award and the 2018 IEEE Masaru Ibuka Consumer Electronics Award.

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1969-12-28
Birth of Linus Torvalds

Linus Torvalds, the creator of Linux, was born in Helsinki, Finland in 1969. He is the son of a statistician and poet.

1980
Linus Torvalds Starts Programming

At the age of 11, Linus Torvalds received a Commodore VIC 20 from his grandfather and began writing programs in BASIC. This marked the beginning of his journey into programming.

1981
Linus Torvalds Starts Writing Code

At the age of 11, Linus Torvalds began programming in BASIC. In 1991, he wrote a Pac-Man clone.

1987
Creation of Linux Kernel

Linus Torvalds started working on a simple Minix-lookalike operating system, which later evolved into the Linux kernel. He mentioned about the possibility of supporting POSIX and bsd-style long file names in the future.

1988
Linus Torvalds Enrolls at University of Helsinki

Linus Torvalds joined the University of Helsinki in 1988 to pursue a major in computer science. This marked a significant step in his academic and professional journey.

1989
Linus Torvalds Joins the Finnish Army

In 1989, Linus Torvalds joined the Finnish Army.

1990
Linus Torvalds learns C programming language

In 1990, Linus Torvalds took his first C programming language class, which later became the foundation for writing the Linux kernel.

1991-01-05
Linus Torvalds Receives His First Copy of UNIX

On January 5, 1991, Linus Torvalds received his first copy of MINIX, which enabled him to start working on the Linux project after acquiring an Intel clone of a popular IBM PC.

1991-07-03
Linus Torvalds attempts to obtain POSIX documentation

On July 3, 1991, Linus Torvalds tried to acquire a digital copy of the POSIX standards documentation to implement Unix system calls in his project. Unable to find it, he resorted to using SunOS documentation and MINIX text for reference.

1991-08-25
Public announcement of Linux kernel

On August 25, 1991, Linus Torvalds, a 21-year-old Finnish student, publicly announced the Linux kernel. The initial version, 0.01, was released on September 17 of the same year.

1991-08-26
Development of Linux Operating System

Linus Torvalds mentions the need for a MMU in his new operating system, which later became known as Linux. He specifies that it requires a 386/486 MMU.

1991-09
Linux Named

Linus Torvalds' amateur operating system was later named 'Linux' as a combination of his name 'Linus' and 'Unix'.

1991-10-05
Release of Linux version 0.01

Linus Torvalds completed the initial version 0.01 of his new operating system Linux.

1991-12-19
Release of Linux 0.03

Linux version 0.03 was released shortly after version 0.02, with improvements that made it more usable. This version marked a step towards better functionality.

1992-05-05
Release of Linux Kernel 0.12

Linux Kernel 0.12 was a significant release as it marked the point where Linux started to gain popularity and spread rapidly. Prior to this version, kernel releases were mainly for hackers, but 0.12 was stable and functional.

1993
Growth of Linux kernel development and distributions

By 1993, over 100 developers were contributing to the Linux kernel, expanding its compatibility with the GNU environment. This led to the creation of various Linux distributions like Slackware and the establishment of the Debian project.

1994-03
Release of Linux Kernel V1.0

In the spring of 1994, Linus Torvalds, along with a team of volunteers, released the first version (V1.0) of the Linux kernel. This release marked a major achievement in the development of the Linux operating system.

1994-04
Bugfixes for Linux Kernel

In April 1994, bugfixes were implemented for the Linux Kernel, addressing various issues and enhancing the stability of the operating system. These bugfixes aimed to improve the overall performance of Linux.

1994-11
Linux version 0.10 released

Linus Torvalds released Linux version 0.10 in November 1994. Despite some bugs, it was considered usable and marked a significant improvement over the previous version.

1994-12
Linux version 0.11 released with first floppy driver

In December 1994, Linux version 0.11 was released, introducing the first floppy driver. This version marked the beginning of Linux development under itself.

1996
Introduction of Linux mascot - Tux the Penguin

In 1996, Linus Torvalds announced the introduction of a mascot for Linux, which was a penguin. The idea stemmed from Torvalds being bitten by a little penguin during a visit to the National Zoo & Aquarium in Canberra, Australia. The mascot, named Tux, was designed by Larry Ewing and suggested by James Hughes.

1997-02
Joining Transmeta

After visiting Transmeta in late 1996, Torvalds accepted a position at the company in California in February 1997, where he worked until June 2003.

1999
Linus Torvalds Becomes a Millionaire

In 1999, Linus Torvalds received stock shares from Red Hat and VA Linux, making him a millionaire after Red Hat went public.

2000
Clarification of Linux kernel license to GPLv2

Around the year 2000, Linus Torvalds clarified that the Linux kernel specifically uses the GPLv2 license without the common 'or later clause'. This decision solidified the licensing terms for the Linux kernel.

2003
Linus Torvalds Joins Linux Foundation

Starting from 2003, Linus Torvalds worked for the Linux Foundation.

2004-06
Moving to Oregon

In June 2004, Torvalds and his family moved to Dunthorpe, Oregon to be closer to the OSDL's headquarters in Beaverton.

2005-04-03
Development of Git

On April 3, 2005, Linus Torvalds started the development of Git, a version control software that became widely used in the software development community. He later handed over Git's maintenance to Junio Hamano on July 26, 2005.

2005-08-21
Linus Torvalds addresses community concerns

On August 21, 2005, Linus Torvalds responded to the community's dissatisfaction with the trademark royalty increase. He clarified the need for trademark protection and explained the implications of not paying the license fees.

2006
Merger of OSDL with Linux Standard Base to form Linux Foundation

In 2006, Open Source Development Lab (OSDL) merged with Linux Standard Base to create the Linux Foundation, where Linus Torvalds continued his work.

2007-01
Formation of The Linux Foundation

In January 2007, the Open Source Development Labs (OSDL) merged with The Free Standards Group to become The Linux Foundation. This organization continues to promote and support the development of Linux.

2008
Linus Torvalds Becomes Fellow

In 2008, Linus Torvalds was honored as a Fellow for his exceptional contributions to the creation of the Linux kernel and his leadership in the open source development of the widely used Linux operating system.

2010
Became a United States Citizen

In 2010, Linus Torvalds became a United States citizen and registered to vote in the United States. He stated that he was unaffiliated with any U.S. political party due to personal pride.

2011
Development of Subsurface software for scuba diving

In late 2011, Linus Torvalds began developing Subsurface, a software for logging and planning scuba dives. It is free and open-source software distributed under the terms of the GNU General Public License version 2.

2012
Linus Torvalds Receives Millennium Technology Prize

In 2012, Linus Torvalds, along with Shinya Yamanaka, was honored with the Millennium Technology Prize for his creation of the Linux kernel, a widely used open-source operating system for computers.

2014
Linus Torvalds Receives IEEE Computer Pioneer Award

Linus Torvalds was awarded the 2014 IEEE Computer Society Computer Pioneer Award in recognition of his pioneering work in the field of computer science, particularly for his contributions to the development of the Linux kernel.

2017-10-11
SUSE Released 'Linus Said' Song

On 11 October 2017, the Linux company SUSE released a song titled 'Linus Said' in honor of Linus Torvalds.

2018-09-16
Linux Kernel Code of Conduct Change

On September 16, 2018, the Linux kernel Code of Conflict was replaced by a new Code of Conduct based on the Contributor Covenant. This change came after Linus Torvalds apologized for his past behavior and announced a period of time off to seek assistance on understanding people's emotions better.

2018-10-22
Return to Maintaining Linux Kernel

After the release of Linux 4.19 on October 22, 2018, Linus Torvalds returned to maintaining the Linux kernel. This marked his comeback following a period of time off to reflect on his behavior and seek assistance on emotional responses.

End of the Timeline
Linus Torvalds
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