Linux/Open Source Software

Open Source is the future of software. Linux, which is the flagship example of this type of software development is growing in use and features. More stable, more speed, more freedom and less cost.

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The Open Source movement has been slowly gaining steam since 1985 and has made some significant accomplishments recently to validify its philosophies and techniques. Here is a timeline of milestones for the Open Source and Linux communities:

Year	Milestones	Estimated # of Linux users
1985	•Free Software Movement begins with the release of the GPL.	NA
1990	•Majority of unix applications redone as Open Source equivilents.	NA
1991	•First Linux kernel version 0.01 released by Linus Torvalds.	1,000
1992	•SLS, the first Linux distribution, is released.
1993	•Slackware distribution is first released. First book on Linux: "Linux Installation and Getting Started" by Matt Welch.
1994	•Linux version 1.0 released. •First issue of Linux Journal magazine is published. •Linux is first mentioned in the mainstream press (Wired Magazine)
1995	•Linux reaches 1 million user mark (est) •Apache web server created.	1,000,000
1996	•Linux 2.0.0 is released. •The penguin is adopted as official mascot/logo of Linux.
1997	•Linux becomes trademarked by Linus Torvalds.	5,000,000
1998	•Netscape open sources browser code as Mozilla. •The term "Open Source" is created by Eric Raymond and others. •Linux is covered on US National Public Radio news. •Google search engine is started, which heavily uses Linux for its servers. •Linus Torvalds put on the covers of Forbes and Time magazines.	7,500,000
1999	•Linux version 2.2.0 is released. •RedHat and VA Linux have wildly successful IPOs •Linuxcare (a support company) announces partnerships with IBM, Dell, Motorola and Informix.	10,000,000
2000	•Apache webserver software runs on over 60% of internet webservers.
2001	•Linux version 2.4.0 is released •Apache server runs on over 64% of internet webservers.
2002	•IBM invests $1 billion into Linux/Open Source software. •Linux presents a significant threat to Microsoft dominance. •Disney switches to Linux for animation.
2003	•Linux version 2.6.0 is released. •City of Munich, Germany plans to switch to Linux. •Government of Brazil plans on switching to Linux.
2004	•City of Rome switches to Linux. •Circuit City plans to switch its POS system to Linux. •Mozilla browser usage skyrockets to over 7% of the browser market.	18,000,000

With our help, you can get ahead of the game and start working with Open Source Software. We'll help you understand what it is, what you can do with it and how it will benifit you.

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