Introduction

Linux is named after Linus Torvalds (pronounced "LYNNus", hence "LYNN-ucks"),

• He wrote the first Linux kernel in 1991.

• At the time, he was a Computer Science undergraduate student at the University of Helsinki, Finland, and wanted a hobby project which he intended to release as a free OS

• Linus retains control of the Linux kernel to this day, through a small company, though he also has (had?) a day job in Silicon Valley.

• He had some technical differences with Minix and with its creator (Professor Andrew Tannenbaum, Computer Science, at a university in the Nederland), and so Linus wanted to do it his way.

• Others found the idea of interest, and began to help Linus with the project.

• Elements of GNU became essential parts of the system, such as gcc (the GNU C compiler).