Create a Future -- Building the Myth of Free Software: Building the Myth of Free Software

Author: Peter Wieners
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2002-12-01
Features: This book tells the story of a group of dedicated software experts from around the world who, using their spare time, developed an "open" operating system that could rival Microsoft's Windows. Through engaging explanations, the author introduces readers to this operating system, which anyone can freely download and use, and how it sparked a grassroots movement among programmers and triggered a revolution in the software industry—one that could even dethrone the mighty Microsoft in the future—is sweeping across the software field. Bill Gates' dominance over the software industry through the Windows system is facing the strongest challenge in history. A brand-new competitor, untamable by any traditional corporate hegemony model, has emerged. Its name is: Linux. This book tells the story of a group of dedicated software experts from around the world who, using their spare time, developed an "open" operating system that could rival Microsoft's Windows. Through engaging explanations, the author introduces readers to this operating system, which anyone can freely download and use, and how it sparked a grassroots movement among programmers and triggered a revolution in the software industry. This book takes us behind the scenes, showcasing the profiles of many of the revolution's leaders, including Richard Stallman, the founder of the Free Software Foundation, and Linus Torvalds, the creator of Linux. You can learn how and why they chose to release their code for free, thereby challenging the hegemony of large companies and giving rise to a new industry focused on Linux product development. The story of Linux has just begun. Here begins the curtain of this legendary tale.