The History of Linux and Minix: Rumors Dismissed

In summary, the conversation discusses the origins of the Linux operating system and the role of Linus Torvalds in its creation. It is mentioned that there were rumors of Linus copying code from Minix, but a history article written by the creator of Minix dismisses these rumors. The article also mentions that Torvalds originally used Minix before creating Linux as a hobby.
  • #1
fargoth
320
6
well, the obvious answer is linus... (atleast he did the kernel, GNU coders coded lots of linux too)

but there were rumors going on that linus copied code off of minix.
i found a nice history articile made by the coder of minix.
nothing revolutionary about it.
he dissmisses these rumors, but it was pretty interesting to read, this guy writes well.

so here it is:
http://www.cs.vu.nl/~ast/brown/

enjoy.
 
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  • #2
I thought that it was common knowledge that Linus was a user of Minix but say many ways in which it could be improved then made considerable improvements.
 
  • #3
Meanwhile, in 1991, another kernel was begun as a hobby by Finnish university student Linus Torvalds while attending the University of Helsinki. Torvalds originally used Minix on his own computer, a simplified Unix-like system written by Andrew Tanenbaum for teaching operating system design. However, Tanenbaum did not permit others to extend his operating system, leading Torvalds to create a replacement for Minix.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Linux
 
  • #4
lol cool i learn something new everyday. I thought Linux was name after the programmer or user. hehe
 

Related to The History of Linux and Minix: Rumors Dismissed

1. What is the history of Linux and Minix?

The history of Linux and Minix involves the development of two popular operating systems, Linux and Minix. The Minix operating system was created by Andrew S. Tanenbaum in the 1980s as a teaching tool for his students. Linux, on the other hand, was developed by Linus Torvalds in 1991 as a free and open-source operating system. It was inspired by Minix but designed for personal computers.

2. Is it true that Linux was a copy of Minix?

No, it is not true. While Linux was inspired by Minix, it was not a copy. Linus Torvalds wrote Linux from scratch, using his own code and ideas. However, he did borrow some features and concepts from Minix, such as the file system structure and the use of a microkernel.

3. What role did Minix play in the development of Linux?

Minix played a crucial role in the development of Linux. Linus Torvalds used Minix as a reference and source of inspiration for creating Linux. He also used some of the source code from Minix to create the initial version of Linux. Additionally, Minix served as a platform for testing and debugging the early versions of Linux.

4. What are the main differences between Linux and Minix?

While both Linux and Minix are Unix-like operating systems, there are several key differences between them. The most significant difference is that Linux is a monolithic kernel, while Minix uses a microkernel. This means that Linux has all its core functions running in the same address space, while Minix has its core functions running as separate processes. Additionally, Linux is designed for personal computers, while Minix is intended for educational purposes.

5. Is Minix still used today?

Yes, Minix is still used today, primarily in educational settings. It is often used as a teaching tool for operating system design and concepts. Additionally, some embedded systems and internet-connected devices use Minix as their operating system due to its small size and efficient design.

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