History Of Linux DevelopmentA student at the University of Helsinki in Finland, Linus Torvalds created Linux as a hobby. He began work on the operating system in the year 1991 and developed version 0.02 of Linux operating system. In the next three years he worked hard and released version 1.0 of the Linux kernel. Linus was interested in Minix but he faced a few problems with it due to which he decided to create a more superior operating system. Initially, Linux was dependent on Minix but gradually he brought out a complete, functional, free software. Years after its birth, Linux development is still taking place. In the year 1991, Linus introduced the Linux Kernel for the Intel x86 PC architecture. Today, the source code is available to everyone. This kernel is at the heart of all Linux operating systems. A number of individuals, companies and organizations have released their own versions of operating systems based on the Linux kernel. Along with kernel, Linux is packaged with other software packages for the purpose of different uses. It is the kernel that forms the base around which a Linux operating system is developed. Since 199, a number of organizations and IT companies (and even individuals) have brought out newer versions of Linux. With the development of Linus operating system, a need for certified IT professionals also increased. The Linux operating system needs a genuine certification that demonstrates the capability of an IT professional in using Linux and Linux related softwares to his/her employers. Most Linux distributions support a large number of languages. Libraries and basic utilities core systems are usually written in C. Many versions also include support for other dynamic languages like Perl, Ruby, Python etc. A number of less common languages are supported too. Various commercial IT vendors and organizations are still working on the development of this operating system. Although it has become a widely known and used operating system in the last few years, it is still way behind the success of Microsoft's Windows operating system. Small business owners and home users do not find Linux user friendly. Many of the bloggers have revealed that Linux is the greatest operating system but it is still not ready for mass consumption. This is because many computer appendages are not compatible with it. Absence of plug-and-play arrangement is one such drawback of the Linux operating system. The latest 2.2 version of the Linux kernel is 2.2.26, the latest 2.4 version of the Linux kernel is 2.4.34.5 and the latest stable version of the same is 2.6.21.5. The development still continues. |