Linux, computer operating system created in the early 1990s by Finnish software engineer Linus Torvalds and the Free Software Foundation (FSF). While still a student at the University of Helsinki, Torvalds started developing Linux to create a system similar to MINIX, a UNIX operating system.

Why was Linux developed?

Linux began in 1991 as a personal project by Finnish student Linus Torvalds: to create a new free operating system kernel. … The resulting Linux kernel has been marked by constant growth throughout its history.

Where was Linux created?

Linux was created in 1991 by Linus Torvalds, a then-student at the University of Helsinki. Torvalds built Linux as a free and open source alternative to Minix, another Unix clone that was predominantly used in academic settings.