linus Trvalds写的第一篇关于linux的文章.docVIP

LINUX--a free unix-386 kernel Linus Torvalds (torvalds@kruuna.helsinki.fi) October 10, 1991 Introduction to LINUX What is LINUX? LINUX is a free unix-like kernel for 386-AT computers, coming with full source code. It is meant for hackers/computer science students to use, learn and enjoy. It is written mostly in C, but parts of it are in gnu-format assembler, and the boot-sequence is in intel 086 assembly language. The C-code is relatively ANSI, with a few GNU enhancements (mostly __asm__ and inline). While there are a number of unices available for 386 computers, most of them cost a lot of money, and come with no source. Thus, they are ideal for actually using your computer, but if you want to learn how they work, you are f- -ked. There are also a few unices available with source. Minix, the learning tool written by Andrew S.?Tanenbaum, has been used in universities as a teaching tool for years. The BSD-386 system comes with source, but has a restrictive copyright and costs a lot of money ($995 is the starting price, I think). The GNU kernel (Hurd) will be free, but is currently not ready, and will be too big to understand and learn. LINUX most closely resembles Minix, in that it is small and not very sophisticated, and thus easy (well...) to understand. LINUX was also written under Minix, so there are quite a bit of similarities, and any Minix hacker will feel relatively at home with LINUX. None of the Minix code was used in the project though, so the Minix copyright doesnt cover the new system. It also is completely free, and has a very loose copyright. Thus there is no need for megabytes of diffs like under Minix. The LINUX copyright While being freely distributable, I do restrict the use of LINUX in a few ways: You may freely copy and redistribute the source and binaries, as long as: complete source is available. Thus binaries may not be distributed by themselves, even if you have made changes to them. you do not profit from the distribution. In fact e