Linux

Tux, the communal mascot of Linux.

Linux is a free and open-source UNIX-like kernel developed by Linus Torvalds. Linux is managed with the version control system git and licensed under the GNU General Public License-2.

Linux is often bundled with GNU utilities.

History

Linus Torvalds released the Linux Kernel in source-code form in 1991. The next year, in February 1992, Linux was released under the GNU General Public License.

NVIDIA's Open-Source Boycott on Linux

In 2011, the NVIDIA Corporation refused to provide open-source GPU drivers; Linux developers were forced to reverse engineer proprietary NVIDIA GPUs to develop open-source drivers, to which NVIDIA provided horrendous support.^{[citation needed]}

Linus Torvalds famously responded to the boycott with a middle finger and a curse word: "NVIDIA, Fuck you!"

NSA Interrogation

In 2013, Nils Torvalds reported that the National Security Agency contacted Linus Torvalds with a request to add backdoors into Linux.

Linux distributions

Linux distributions (operating systems that use Linux) often use GNU coreutils.

State-developed

Many states have developed a Linux-based operating system to develop sovereign economies and break dependence on Microsoft Windows, which has backdoors usable by the Central Intelligence Agency.

• The Russian Federation developed and is transitioning to Astra Linux, due to it's compliance to state orders for use of domestic software.
• The Republic of Cuba developed Nova.
• The DPRK (through the Korea Computer Center) developed Red Star OS.^{[Confirm Linux heritage]}

External Links

• kernel.org
• Torvalds Linux repository