[Share Experiences] The People and Stories Behind GNU/Linux and Open Source Culture
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2024-09-13 11:03
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[Historical Records] The People and Stories Behind GNU/Linux and Open Source Culture
The Invention of the Computer
There was no road, but many people walked and found a path. There was no computer, but many people worked on it… Without computers, nothing could be discussed.
Three individuals made significant contributions to the invention of the computer: Alan Mathison Turing, John Vincent Atanasoff, and John von Neumann.
Turing theoretically demonstrated the breath of computers; Atanasoff put Turing's theories into practice; von Neumann established the architecture of modern computers.
Turing suggested that this device should work, and it was proven; Atanasoff built one without hesitation; von Neumann believed it could be even better.
The tragic end of the genius Turing: deciphering the Enigma code, homosexuality, and a poisoned apple
Turing’s contributions were immense, yet he met a tragic end because he was homosexual. He died after consuming an apple laced with cyanide. Some say Apple’s logo commemorates Turing, but that’s not true. The true commemoration of Turing is the “Turing Award,” the highest accolade in computer science, established by the Association for Computing Machinery in 1966.
Atanasoff might not be very famous, but he lived a long life. The first computer in the world, the ABC computer, was invented under his leadership, not the ENIAC as many books state.
Von Neumann was handsome, intelligent, had a broad range of research fields, and many stories about him. The computers we use today bear the deep imprint of von Neumann’s architecture.
There are various claims about who is the father of the computer. These three individuals can all be called the father of computers. At one point, von Neumann was considered the father of computers, but he humbly attributed the achievement to Turing.
“The Born Genius” John von Neumann (Internet Celebrity Show)
In the early days, the world’s computing center was at Princeton University, dazzling with stars. Von Neumann worked there, and Turing studied there; they chatted in Princeton’s garden. Von Neumann wanted Turing as his assistant, but Turing refused.
The Early Unix and C Language
Early computers were large, had many electronic components, consumed a lot of electricity each time they were started, and were inconvenient to use. Among other issues, they could only perform one task at a time, which was frustrating. Imagine hiring a chef who can only cook one dish at a time even though multiple dishes could be prepared simultaneously. This single-tasking system was quite inefficient.
This frustration led to the concept of an operating system. An operating system makes computers easier to use and more functional.
In 1965, MIT, Bell Labs, and General Electric collaborated to create a super network named Multics (Multiplexed Information and Computing Service), allowing multiple users to perform various tasks simultaneously.
Dr. Stallman’s GNU Project
When AT&T decided to monetize Unix, it wasn’t just AT&T; many companies wanted to profit from software. Software was no longer free or open-source, and learning from each other's source codes was no longer possible.
This shift deeply dissatisfied Richard Matthew Stallman (RMS), who once sought to modify a system but was met with a cold refusal when he asked for the source code.
Determined to challenge this disheartening trend, Stallman, an old-school hacker and the author of Emacs, embarked on a mission to create a free, open-source system. He founded the Free Software Foundation (FSF) and launched the ambitious GNU (GNU’s Not Unix) project, aiming to develop a system as good as Unix but free and open-source.
The GNU project progressed smoothly, developing essential software like GLibc, GCC, and GDB. However, it faced a significant hurdle with the kernel, Hurd, which was crucial for the system but lagged in development.
The Birth of Linux
In 1991, Linus Torvalds, a student at the University of Helsinki, Finland, started developing a simple operating system, influenced by GNU’s Bash and GCC. He released his kernel system, Linux, on the internet, which attracted considerable interest. By 1993, about 100 people were contributing to the Linux kernel code.
In March 1994, Linux 1.0 was released, marking a milestone. The Linux kernel combined with GNU software created the GNU/Linux system. Over time, Linux grew from a small project into a robust operating system.
Linus, who was once attacked by a penguin, chose a penguin as the Linux logo, a logic known only to him. Both QQ and Linux share this penguin image.
Linux pioneered an open-source development model, with numerous collaborators working on code submissions and revisions. Eric Raymond, an advocate of open-source, later analyzed this development model in his essay "The Cathedral and the Bazaar."
Various Linux Distributions
While the GNU project struggled with the kernel, the Linux kernel emerged, a match made in heaven. Combining GNU projects with the Linux kernel resulted in a fully functional, free, and open-source system: GNU/Linux.
GNU/Linux became a platform for numerous software projects, with distributions like Redhat, Slackware, Mandrake, Gentoo, Debian, and Ubuntu emerging. Each distribution integrated GNU software, the Linux kernel, and other open-source software, offering installation programs for ease of use.
In 2002, Mark Shuttleworth, a South African entrepreneur, spent $20 million to travel to space and later founded Canonical, promoting the Ubuntu distribution, which became highly popular in the GNU/Linux community.
The Legacy of GNU/Linux and Open Source Culture
GNU/Linux has not become the mainstream desktop system, but it’s widely used, especially in servers and Android devices. Its development was driven by a mix of strategic planning, individual efforts, and the support of numerous open-source projects.
Unix and C language provided the foundation, while standards like POSIX ensured compatibility. The internet facilitated global collaboration, crucial for GNU/Linux’s development.
Richard Stallman’s efforts were pivotal, both in creating GNU and inspiring the open-source movement. Eric Raymond furthered the cause with his advocacy and writings.
Numerous contributors and projects, from Perl and Python to MySQL and Node.js, enriched GNU/Linux and advanced open-source culture.
The diverse licenses like GPL, LGPL, Apache License, and BSD facilitated software sharing and growth. Git, developed by Linus Torvalds, revolutionized version control, enabling collaborative development on platforms like GitHub.
The GNU/Linux system and the open-source movement continue to thrive, driven by a community committed to freedom and collaboration.
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[Historical Records] The People and Stories Behind GNU/Linux and Open Source Culture
There was no road, but many people walked and found a path. There was no computer, but many people worked on it… Without computers, nothing could be discussed.
Three individuals made significant contributions to the invention of the computer: Alan Mathison Turing, John Vincent Atanasoff, and John von Neumann.
Turing theoretically demonstrated the breath of computers; Atanasoff put Turing's theories into practice; von Neumann established the architecture of modern computers.
Turing suggested that this device should work, and it was proven; Atanasoff built one without hesitation; von Neumann believed it could be even better.
The tragic end of the genius Turing: deciphering the Enigma code, homosexuality, and a poisoned apple
Turing’s contributions were immense, yet he met a tragic end because he was homosexual. He died after consuming an apple laced with cyanide. Some say Apple’s logo commemorates Turing, but that’s not true. The true commemoration of Turing is the “Turing Award,” the highest accolade in computer science, established by the Association for Computing Machinery in 1966.
Atanasoff might not be very famous, but he lived a long life. The first computer in the world, the ABC computer, was invented under his leadership, not the ENIAC as many books state.
Von Neumann was handsome, intelligent, had a broad range of research fields, and many stories about him. The computers we use today bear the deep imprint of von Neumann’s architecture.
There are various claims about who is the father of the computer. These three individuals can all be called the father of computers. At one point, von Neumann was considered the father of computers, but he humbly attributed the achievement to Turing.
“The Born Genius” John von Neumann (Internet Celebrity Show)
In the early days, the world’s computing center was at Princeton University, dazzling with stars. Von Neumann worked there, and Turing studied there; they chatted in Princeton’s garden. Von Neumann wanted Turing as his assistant, but Turing refused.
Early computers were large, had many electronic components, consumed a lot of electricity each time they were started, and were inconvenient to use. Among other issues, they could only perform one task at a time, which was frustrating. Imagine hiring a chef who can only cook one dish at a time even though multiple dishes could be prepared simultaneously. This single-tasking system was quite inefficient.
This frustration led to the concept of an operating system. An operating system makes computers easier to use and more functional.
In 1965, MIT, Bell Labs, and General Electric collaborated to create a super network named Multics (Multiplexed Information and Computing Service), allowing multiple users to perform various tasks simultaneously.
When AT&T decided to monetize Unix, it wasn’t just AT&T; many companies wanted to profit from software. Software was no longer free or open-source, and learning from each other's source codes was no longer possible.
This shift deeply dissatisfied Richard Matthew Stallman (RMS), who once sought to modify a system but was met with a cold refusal when he asked for the source code.
Determined to challenge this disheartening trend, Stallman, an old-school hacker and the author of Emacs, embarked on a mission to create a free, open-source system. He founded the Free Software Foundation (FSF) and launched the ambitious GNU (GNU’s Not Unix) project, aiming to develop a system as good as Unix but free and open-source.
The GNU project progressed smoothly, developing essential software like GLibc, GCC, and GDB. However, it faced a significant hurdle with the kernel, Hurd, which was crucial for the system but lagged in development.
In 1991, Linus Torvalds, a student at the University of Helsinki, Finland, started developing a simple operating system, influenced by GNU’s Bash and GCC. He released his kernel system, Linux, on the internet, which attracted considerable interest. By 1993, about 100 people were contributing to the Linux kernel code.
In March 1994, Linux 1.0 was released, marking a milestone. The Linux kernel combined with GNU software created the GNU/Linux system. Over time, Linux grew from a small project into a robust operating system.
Linus, who was once attacked by a penguin, chose a penguin as the Linux logo, a logic known only to him. Both QQ and Linux share this penguin image.
Linux pioneered an open-source development model, with numerous collaborators working on code submissions and revisions. Eric Raymond, an advocate of open-source, later analyzed this development model in his essay "The Cathedral and the Bazaar."
While the GNU project struggled with the kernel, the Linux kernel emerged, a match made in heaven. Combining GNU projects with the Linux kernel resulted in a fully functional, free, and open-source system: GNU/Linux.
GNU/Linux became a platform for numerous software projects, with distributions like Redhat, Slackware, Mandrake, Gentoo, Debian, and Ubuntu emerging. Each distribution integrated GNU software, the Linux kernel, and other open-source software, offering installation programs for ease of use.
In 2002, Mark Shuttleworth, a South African entrepreneur, spent $20 million to travel to space and later founded Canonical, promoting the Ubuntu distribution, which became highly popular in the GNU/Linux community.
GNU/Linux has not become the mainstream desktop system, but it’s widely used, especially in servers and Android devices. Its development was driven by a mix of strategic planning, individual efforts, and the support of numerous open-source projects.
Unix and C language provided the foundation, while standards like POSIX ensured compatibility. The internet facilitated global collaboration, crucial for GNU/Linux’s development.
Richard Stallman’s efforts were pivotal, both in creating GNU and inspiring the open-source movement. Eric Raymond furthered the cause with his advocacy and writings.
Numerous contributors and projects, from Perl and Python to MySQL and Node.js, enriched GNU/Linux and advanced open-source culture.
The diverse licenses like GPL, LGPL, Apache License, and BSD facilitated software sharing and growth. Git, developed by Linus Torvalds, revolutionized version control, enabling collaborative development on platforms like GitHub.
The GNU/Linux system and the open-source movement continue to thrive, driven by a community committed to freedom and collaboration.