Linux origins in Microsoft? Is this true?

[JediSB]

I came across this in a reply to a ZD Net article about Linux on the desktop. Anyone know for sure if this is true:
Linus Tovalds developed Linux on a Microsoft research grant using kernel code developed in Redmond by Microsoft's famous "Blue Team".
At the time, no one at Microsoft thought the code was going anywhere so they let Linus have it and, of course, the rest is history.
SO, anytime you fire up Linux, give a hearty thanks to the people who made it possible - Bill Gates and his buddies in Redmond.

[YaRness]

1. This should be in off-topic.

2. Do a search for "linux history" or something.

[JediSB]

I searched before I posted. Couldn't find anything.
My post was about Linux, but nothing specific, so I placed it here. If it should have been in "off-topic", I'm sorry. This is my first post here.

[YaRness]

everybody posts in the wrong forum now and then.

i had no trouble finding a lot of articles searching on google (http://www.google.com/linux?site=search&restrict=linux&hl=en&safe=off&q=the+history+of+linux).

according to my own little knowledge, linux is a free (as in beer and speech) clone of unix that linus torvalds started because he wanted to use it for school. had nothing to do with microsoft.

look at the articles yourself... some are short, no doubt some are very detailed.

[twofoolish2b]

I don't know about the Microsoft research grant part of your story, but I'm pretty sure the kernel code and idea came from Minix.

[Sweede]

if this is true, the "Blue Team" was the joint venture between MS and IBM to create a stable, powerfull GUI server (OS/2).

after a while they got fed up with what they where doing (go figure), and IBM and Microsoft broke their agreement and each kept a copy of the code and went on to develop it themselves.

This is why OS/2 and NT 3.5/4.0 look very very similar to each other, they actually do contain identical code.

if linus used this code, then it's got roots in VMS, thats what the OS/2 [IMB/MS] development team used as a foundation for their kernel.

[JediSB]

I found some linux history articles on Google, but nothing that mentioned the Microsoft connection.

[JALU]

Anyone read Linus' book who might be able to shed a little light on this? I have read quite a bit about this history of linux, but I have never heard anything like this.

[YaRness]

i don't see why bother trying to disprove it.. no one has even shown clearly that it's a feasible idea.

( what, someone spreading FUD on zdnet? no...... :rolleyes: )

[ 02 July 2001: Message edited by: YaRness ]

[Major Geek]

Please post a link to the article. If you cannot, I will make the safe assumption that
you are a troll.

Major Geek

[YaRness]

a link to the article would be fruitless. it wasn't the article, it was some random person's reply to the article.
Originally posted by JediSB:
<STRONG>I came across this in a reply to a ZD Net article</STRONG>[/QUOTE]

[JediSB]

Here ya go! It is just a comment from some reader repsonding to an article about what Linux needs for the desktop.
<A HREF="http://www.zdnet.com/tlkbck/comment/465/0,10732,113210-844545,00.html" TARGET=_blank>http://www.zdnet.com/tlkbck/comment/465/0,10732,113210-844545,00.html
</A>

[ZacMacCrac]

lo....
finally back from vac :/

all I have ever heared is rumors that Linux is based on some Unix kernel code snippet. But thats just rumors...

...so we come to the conclusion that Linux was made from scratch with the aim to create an operating system that is like Unix but free.

...and noone ever said something about Microsoft. I agree with YaRness - random FUD on one of the most popular discussion sites. (Popular sites attract morons. Always.)


chris-

[j.harrison]

Oh, so then this is only the delusion of some software engineer in Atlanta?

I think I'll file this thread under False Alarms. :rolleyes:

[crazyox2]

totally false

[JediSB]

I've kinda "cross referenced" this thread to another bbs I frequent and here's a comment someone had about Sweede's VMS post:
The VMS stuff isn't quite true... the DEC engineers responsible for VMS were mostly hired later by Microsoft, and somehow the event just keeps getting pushed backwards in time until the OS/2 team was designing based on VMS too!
Linux has no roots in VMS. It has roots in Minix. It is a plain UNIX clone (sorry, I'm a Linux advocate myself, as well as someone who has studied the kernel source, and that is exactly what it is).

[solo]

Originally posted by YaRness:
<STRONG>... according to my own little knowledge, linux is a free (as in beer and speech) clone of unix that linus torvalds started because he wanted to use it for school. had nothing to do with microsoft.

look at the articles yourself... some are short, no doubt some are very detailed.</STRONG>

This is very close to what I've read on the subject also... Linus has already spent money on his computer system, and didn't want to shell out even more bucks for the OS (Microsoft Windows). He undoubtedly knew how proprietary M$'s software was/is; so I'm sure there was no basis at all for Linus to use M$ to develop Linux.

Just look at every other "group project" that Microsoft has engaged in. Either they've bought it, and put there name on it; or bought, or muscled it right out of the marketplace. Where do you think Linux would be now if it had gotten it's start with M$ backing?

[Craig McPherson]

I usually let these things speak for themselves, but...

YHBT
YHL
HAND

[MandK_10]

Anyone know for sure if this is true:


Yes, it is not true.

[Mr.Sparkle]

I own and read linus's book. And there is absolutely NO MS code in the kernal. Inless he decided to keep that part seceret..