{
  "id": 3260523,
  "title": "'Just a hobby, won't be big': Linus Torvalds introduced Linux 35 years ago - and almost called it Freax",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/25/just-a-hobby-wont-be-big-linus-torvalds-introduced-linux-35-years-ago",
  "topic": "tech",
  "section": "Tech",
  "published": "2026-08-25T12:21:00.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "ZDNet",
    "slug": "zdnet",
    "url": "https://www.zdnet.com/article/just-a-hobby-linus-torvalds-introduced-linux-35-years-ago-almost-called-it-freax/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "In August 1991, Finnish computer science student Linus Torvalds began working on a free operating system for x86 computers, describing it as \"just a hobby, won't be big and professional like GNU.\" Torvalds initially named the project \"Freax,\" a combination of \"free,\" \"freak,\" and \"x\" to represent a Unix-like system. However, his friend Ari Lemmke, who set up the servers for the project, disliked the name \"Freax\" and renamed the directory \"Linux,\" which stuck. The first person to install the new operating system was Torvalds' colleague, Lars Wirzenius. From its inception, Linux quickly gained traction, with a small group of volunteers contributing to its development. The turning point came when Torvalds embraced and encouraged outside changes, treating the kernel as a common resource for others to extend. By the end of 1991, Linux had surpassed the GNU Hurd and Minix projects, and by summer 1992, it was running the X window system, marking a significant milestone in its development.",
  "summary": "It's been 35 years since Finnish graduate student Linus Torvalds drafted a brief note saying he was starting a hobby operating system. The world will never be the same.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 4,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "The Register Science",
        "title": "Emperor Penguin Linus Torvalds banishes a bug – with a bot",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/24/emperor-penguin-linus-torvalds-banishes-a-bug-with-a-bot",
        "published": "2026-08-24T15:32:00.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "XDA Developers",
        "title": "35 years ago today, Linus Torvalds made a Usenet post that introduced Linux to the world",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/25/35-years-ago-today-linus-torvalds-made-a-usenet-post-that-introduced",
        "published": "2026-08-25T07:07:43.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Tom's Hardware",
        "title": "Linux was announced by Linus Torvalds 35 years ago today — humble OS started with 10,000 lines of code but has now grown to 40 million, dominates global infrastructure",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/25/linux-was-announced-by-linus-torvalds-35-years-ago-today-humble-os",
        "published": "2026-08-25T12:28:05.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}