Linux

Tux, the communal mascot of Linux.

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

Linux is often bundled with the GNU utilities. Although, this is not always the case, as can be seen by distributions like Alpine Linux.

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 the GNU coreutils. Although, many alternatives to the GNU coreutils exist, such as Uutils and Busybox.

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