IDG Contributor Network: Happy Birthday! Linux turns 25

Sometime in 2016 Linux will be 25 years old. Exactly when is a matter of opinion.

We could consider Linux's 25^th birthday to be August 25^th. That's because on that date in 1991, Linus Torvalds made his announcement to the minix community to let them know that he was working on a modest new OS. He had started the work in April. By October 5^th, he felt that his new OS was usable and ready for the community at large.

Whether you count the announcement (8/25/1991), its readiness for use/testing (10/05/1991), or Linus' initially getting his project off the ground (April 1991) as the official birthday, Linux turns 25 sometime this year. And what is most amazing is what has happened since. All manner of Linux OSes have come into being.

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