An overview of Linux
Before discussing how to program for Linux, we should discuss what it is. The short answer is that it is an operating system. While that is absolutely true, it does not sufficiently explain all that Linux can do. I can say that a bike is a transporting device, but that also applies to the Saturn 5 rocket that took astronauts to the moon. We need a bit more information.
A short history of Linux
The history of Linux is quite fascinating. Understanding the timeline and circumstances under which it was developed can help you appreciate some of the design decisions and choices. So, here is a short timeline of the history of Linux:
- Early beginnings
- In 1983, Richard Stallman announced the GNU Project. The idea was to create a free Unix-like operating system. Unix was the leading operating system in those days. The GNU Project developed many components, but one key piece, the kernel, was missing.
- In 1987, Andrew S. Tanenbaum created Minix. Minix was a Unix...
