Linux

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Linux is a family of open source Unix-like operating systems based on the Linux kernel, an operating system kernel first released on September 17, 1991 by Linus Torvalds. Linux is typically packaged in a Linux distribution (or distro for short).

Distributions include the Linux kernel and supporting system software and libraries, many of which are provided by the GNU Project. Many Linux distributions use the word "Linux" in their name, but the Free Software Foundation uses the name GNU/Linux to emphasize the importance of GNU software, causing some controversy.

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Linux during the mid to late 90s (Windows 95 and 98 era) (lemmy.world)

submitted 4 months ago by Tekkip20@lemmy.world to c/linux@lemmy.ml

109 comments fedilink hide all child comments

For those veteran linux people, what was it like back in 90s? I did see and hear of Unix systems being available for use but I did not see much apart from old versions of Debian in use.

Were they prominent in education like universities? Was it mainly a hobbyist thing at the time compared to the business needs of 98, 95 and classic mac?

I ask this because I found out that some PC games I owned were apparently also on Linux even in CD format from a firm named Loki.

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[–] schizo@forum.uncomfortable.business 19 points 4 months ago (1 children)

It was prominent in smaller businesses that wanted or needed a Unix but weren't going to pay what sun or IBM or HP and friends wanted for their hardware+software.

It ate the proprietary Unix market awfully quickly and I don't think anyone really misses it.

For me, educational stuff was all windows with a small amount of macs and I don't think I ever saw a Linux system in actual use anywhere.

I used it on the desktop but that was super rare because hardware support was nowhere as good as now - even getting X up was a challenge (go read up on mode lines if you want some entertainment).

[–] lemmyvore@feddit.nl 6 points 4 months ago (1 children)

For me, educational stuff was all windows with a small amount of macs and I don't think I ever saw a Linux system in actual use anywhere.

Linux systems started being common in CompSci schools around mid-90s, around the time LAMP took off (fun fact, Apache, MySQL and PHP were all launched in 1995).

Previously in CompSci you'd get to use all kinds of UNIX servers. My uni still had Solaris servers with dumb terminals, and I got my first sysadmin certification on SCO.UNIX / OpenServer.

[–] schizo@forum.uncomfortable.business 2 points 4 months ago

I was doing english lit stuff in that era so what showed up on the tech side was a little different. Ended up spending my entire career actually in IT (25 years now ugh I'm old) because it turns out uh, there's not any money in a english degree.