How was Linux developed?

Linux was developed by programmers around the world as a community project, started by Linus Torvalds in 1991. Using the Internet, Torvalds expressed an interest in creating a new operating system.

In an unprecedented move, Torvalds released what he had at that time on Internet under the GPL license. The GPL license allows you to share, and modify the program as you need, but also requires that all changes must be shared, so that everyone has the ability to use Linux equally. This effectively makes Linux "community property" to the entire world.

Mr. Torvalds was surprised when literally hundreds of bugfixes and improvements were offered by volunteers, almost immediately. Since then, Linux has grown through those volunteers to become one of the world's most widely used computer technologies for everything from the Internet webservers to cell phones.

Because anyone can contribute time, programming, or other help, people from hundreds of countries around the world contribute programming improvements, translations, documentation, and advice. Some are paid by companies such as IBM and RedHat, but most do so for free and the sense of community spirit.