this post was submitted on 17 Jan 2024
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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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submitted 10 months ago* (last edited 10 months ago) by LunchEnjoyer@lemmy.world to c/linux@lemmy.ml
 

Is there any story or reason behind the name? Or is it just simply a random choice of word? Does it mean anything outside being a hat haha.

edit: i feel stupid for asking now, should have guessed it had to do with Redhat...

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[–] Bitrot@lemmy.sdf.org 152 points 10 months ago* (last edited 10 months ago) (1 children)

Mark Ewing used to wear a red Cornell lacrosse cap and when he would help in computer labs people would look for a the man in the red hat. The company was called Red Hat after Mark but their logo has been a person in a fedora for a long time.

Fedora is a community continuation of Red Hat Linux, which was discontinued in favor of Red Hat Enterprise Linux. Back when I was starting out Fedora wasn't a thing, you downloaded Red Hat Linux for free directly from the company or could buy it in a box.

[–] sab@kbin.social 36 points 10 months ago (2 children)

Didn't know the backstory, thanks for sharing!

I'm relieved to hear he didn't walk around in a red fedora.

[–] drolex@sopuli.xyz 27 points 10 months ago
[–] sugartits@lemmy.world 16 points 10 months ago (1 children)

But he was wearing just a red hat...

[–] snooggums@kbin.social 19 points 10 months ago

sudo put some pants on