How Linux Revolutionized Computing
A reflection on how Linus Torvalds's small 1991 hobby project evolved into the backbone of modern computing, shaping open-source innovation and global technology.
In the year 1991, Linus Torvalds created something that would go on to revolutionize computing. The Linux kernel was born. Since then, Linux has become a significant part of everyday life.
There are many who, when they think of Linux, think that Linux is an operating system. However, Linux itself is a kernel, not a full operating system.
The Linux kernel makes up the core component that manages the hardware resources of a machine and provides the interface between hardware and software.
The Linux kernel is the core component of a distro — a Linux operating system. A Linux distro (distribution) is a complete Linux operating system that packages together the Linux kernel with all the additional software needed to make it usable.
Metaphorically, the Linux kernel can be thought of as an engine, and a Linux distribution can be thought of as a whole car. There are hundreds of active Linux distributions and even more discontinued ones. Different distros serve various intended purposes.
For general desktop use, Ubuntu is one of the most popular. There's also Linux Mint, Fedora Workstation, and Pop!_OS. A more advanced distro would be Arch Linux. There are also some popular Linux server distributions such as Debian, CentOS, and Red Hat Enterprise Linux. Ubuntu also has a server version. Additionally, there are specialized versions such as Kali Linux, Parrot OS, and Raspberry Pi OS.
The Linux kernel truly revolutionized the world of computing. But this didn't happen overnight. It evolved through a chain reaction that reshaped how operating systems, servers, and eventually the entire internet functioned.
It revolutionized computing by starting out as an open-source collaboration. This allowed computing practitioners and hobbyists worldwide to develop and collaborate, which further led to the rise of free and open operating systems. Now, most of the modern internet today is powered by Linux.
It runs over 70% of the world's servers, dominates cloud infrastructure, and essentially runs everything from supercomputers to smartphones, from Raspberry Pis to self-driving cars. It's the dominant OS in embedded systems, networking gear, and IoT devices.
Because it was free and open, students, researchers, and startups could experiment without licensing costs, leading to explosive innovation in computing, networking, and security.
Linux was released under the GNU General Public License. Sparking a turning point for the software industry, allowing anyone to study, modify, and redistribute the Linux kernel source code legally and freely. This opened a lot of doors for community-driven development.
So, the General Public Licensing or GPL, followed by the heavy progression of a global volunteer community, along with the modular design of the Linux kernel's ability to ease hardware portability, are all factors that led to this ecosystem effect in computing.
As a result, the Linux kernel is the foundation for:
- Being a cornerstone in the open-source movement
- Android OS - Mobile device revolution
- Docker / Kubernetes - Containerization
- Raspberry Pi - Maker revolution
- The standard OS for servers, supercomputers, and cloud environments
- A symbol of global collaboration and freedom in technology
When Linus Torvalds created the Linux kernel in 1991, it went on to revolutionize computing — not by dominating desktops, but by quietly becoming the invisible backbone of the modern digital world.