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The GNU Project Begins
Richard Stallman launched the GNU Project with the goal of creating a free Unix-like operating system. GNU stands for “GNU’s Not Unix.” It aimed to build all the components of an OS like a shell, compiler, libraries, and tools but it lacked a working kernel. -
Free Software Foundation (FSF) Founded
Stallman created the Free Software Foundation to support the development of free software and promote the idea that users should be able to freely use, study, modify, and share software -
GNU General Public License (GPL)
The GNU GPL was released, giving developers a legal framework to release software that remained free and open. It became one of the most important licenses in the open-source world. -
Linux Kernel Released
Linus Torvalds released version 0.01 of the Linux kernel, which was a free Unix-like kernel compatible with GNU software. This completed the GNU operating system GNU tools + Linux kernel = GNU/Linux -
Linux Re-licensed under the GPL
Linus re-licensed the Linux kernel under the GNU GPL, allowing it to be legally and freely combined with GNU tools. This sparked global collaboration and the rise of the GNU/Linux operating system. -
Debian Project Founded
Debian was one of the first full GNU/Linux distributions, built by the community for stability and freedom. It became the base for many other distros, including Ubuntu -
Red Hat Linux Released
Red Hat released one of the first commercial Linux distributions with support and packaging. It helped bring GNU/Linux into businesses and data centers -
KDE Project Started
The KDE desktop environment began development, offering a complete, user-friendly graphical interface for GNU/Linux systems. It marked the beginning of desktop-focused Linux. -
GNOME Project Started
GNOME was launched as an alternative to KDE, fully built with free software. It became one of the most popular desktop environments, used by distros like Fedora and Ubuntu -
Linux Enters Enterprise with Red Hat & SUSE
Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL) and SUSE Linux Enterprise were launched, focusing on servers and business support. Enterprise adoption of GNU/Linux began to grow rapidly -
Ubuntu Released
Ubuntu was introduced as a Debian-based distro focused on usability, desktop polish, and regular releases. It quickly became the most popular GNU/Linux distribution for new users and developers alike -
Git is Created
Linus Torvalds created Git, the version control system, to manage Linux kernel development. It became a vital tool in open-source software development worldwide -
Linux Foundation Formed
Major tech companies came together to form the Linux Foundation, supporting kernel development and promoting GNU/Linux adoption across industries -
Android Launches
Android, based on the Linux kernel (but not the full GNU stack), launched and quickly became the dominant mobile OS. It showcased Linux’s adaptability to different platforms -
Steam for Linux Announced
Valve announced Steam for Linux, bringing gaming to GNU/Linux systems and encouraging game developers to support Linux platforms -
Systemd Becomes Standard Init System
Most major distros adopted systemd as their default init system, replacing older systems like SysVinit. It modernized system management but stirred some controversy in the community -
Windows Subsystem for Linux (WSL)
Microsoft introduced WSL, allowing users to run GNU/Linux distributions natively on Windows. It showed growing respect for GNU/Linux even within the Windows ecosystem -
Linux Everywhere
GNU/Linux now runs everything from web servers and cloud infrastructure (like AWS, Google Cloud) to supercomputers, embedded devices, and personal desktops. Distros like Ubuntu, Arch, Fedora, and Pop!_OS continue to evolve with polished user experiences and powerful developer tools