this post was submitted on 03 Jul 2024
120 points (98.4% liked)

Linux

48640 readers
2096 users here now

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Linux is a family of open source Unix-like operating systems based on the Linux kernel, an operating system kernel first released on September 17, 1991 by Linus Torvalds. Linux is typically packaged in a Linux distribution (or distro for short).

Distributions include the Linux kernel and supporting system software and libraries, many of which are provided by the GNU Project. Many Linux distributions use the word "Linux" in their name, but the Free Software Foundation uses the name GNU/Linux to emphasize the importance of GNU software, causing some controversy.

Rules

Related Communities

Community icon by Alpár-Etele Méder, licensed under CC BY 3.0

founded 5 years ago
MODERATORS
 

For those veteran linux people, what was it like back in 90s? I did see and hear of Unix systems being available for use but I did not see much apart from old versions of Debian in use.

Were they prominent in education like universities? Was it mainly a hobbyist thing at the time compared to the business needs of 98, 95 and classic mac?

I ask this because I found out that some PC games I owned were apparently also on Linux even in CD format from a firm named Loki.

you are viewing a single comment's thread
view the rest of the comments
[–] [email protected] 14 points 5 months ago

My linux experience:

1993 - Hey, there's a new Unix-like thing for the PC. You can check it out down at the university computer club.

1994 - Wow, I finally managed to get X running

1996 - It was somewhat normal for more nerdy software developers to run linux full-time on their desktop at work.

1998 - Linux was taking over servers to the point where you rarely saw Solaris, HP-UX, AIX around any more.

2002 - Everyone agreed that linux was pretty much ready to take over the desktop as well.