By CNET News.com
Staff
August 24, 2001, 4:00 a.m. PT
On Aug. 25, 1991, Finnish computer science student Linus
Torvalds sent an announcement that he was creating an operating
system for Intel-based computers--"just a hobby, won't be big and
professional," he said.
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The Finnish programmer created and still leads
development of the Linux "kernel," the fundamental part
of an operating system. Torvalds has since gone to work
for Intel challenger Transmeta.
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Ten years later, Torvalds continues to release new versions
of Linux every few weeks, but he was wrong when he predicted it
would be just a hobby. The operating system has lured countless
programmers, spawned numerous start-ups, clawed its way into the
product lines of the biggest computer sellers, and won a place in
the center of the most entrenched computing company of them all,
IBM.
It's a rags-to-riches story, but in the next decade, Linux fans
will have to work to keep their momentum.
Among the hurdles: Microsoft has begun waging serious war and is
working to undermine Linux's legal foundation. And, many of the
companies trying to capitalize on Linux's popularity are struggling
to survive an economic downturn.
Why Linux caught on where others
failed
Linux hasn't come close to writing Windows'
obituary, but in the 10 years since it was born, Linux has carved
out a niche where others have fallen by the wayside.
Stocks burn out, companies fade away
Linux
companies that braved the public market, such as Red Hat and VA
Linux, shone bright two years ago. But as the general tech market
tumbled, the companies followed.
Readers' turn: Is Linux a threat to
Microsoft?
Many say Linux is a contender to
Microsoft in the server-software market but has little hope on the
desktop. Others hope Linux can disrupt the giant's juggernaut--soon.
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