The Story of Open Source

It all started with a laser printer — The Xerox 9700.

The birth of a philosophy

In 1980, Richard Matthew Stallman (rms), a programmer at the MIT Artificial Intelligence Laboratory, faced a pivotal moment. The lab installed the Xerox 9700 laser printer, a massive machine located on a separate floor from its users. Unlike its predecessor, this printer’s source code was proprietary. Stallman had previously enhanced the older printer by modifying its software to notify users when their jobs were complete and alert everyone in case of a jam. Without access to the new printer’s source code, he could not implement these practical features.

This restriction caused frustration and inconvenience. Stallman began to see how proprietary software could limit users and harm innovation. This experience planted the seed for his philosophy of software freedom.

The GNU Project

In September 1983, Stallman announced a project to create a free operating system called GNU (GNU’s Not Unix). It would be compatible with Unix, a popular but proprietary system, making it easy for users to switch. Unlike Unix, GNU would offer complete freedom to study, modify, and distribute its code.

Free Software Foundation

By 1985, Stallman founded the Free Software Foundation (FSF) to support the development of free software. The FSF employed programmers and built a legal framework to protect software freedom. Stallman emphasised the importance of the word “free” as in “free speech,” not “free beer.”

Free as in free speech and not free beer.

GNU General Public License and Copyleft

In 1989, Stallman drafted the GNU General Public License (GPL), a revolutionary legal document. It introduced the concept of “copyleft.” Under copyleft, anyone modifying and redistributing free software must ensure that their changes are also free. This prevented proprietary use of free software.

GNU Hurd — The kernel that was always in the making

The kernel is the core of any operating system, responsible for allocating system resources like memory and processing power to applications. The GNU project aimed to develop a kernel, GNU Hurd, using an ambitious microkernel design. This design relied on small components communicating through asynchronous messages.

Despite its innovation, the Hurd was plagued by bugs and delays. By the late 1980s, the GNU team had completed most utilities and basic applications for the system, but the kernel remained unfinished.

Linus Torvalds to the rescue

In Finland, Linus Torvalds, a student at the University of Helsinki, was developing a small operating system as a learning project. Inspired by Unix and a book on operating systems, he created the Linux kernel. Initially called “freax,” the kernel became “Linux” after a friend renamed the FTP directory hosting it.

Torvalds released Linux under the GNU GPL after attending a talk by Stallman. This move ensured Linux would remain free software.

The Linux Kernel and the GNU project

The Linux kernel was stable and functional, even in its early stages. Developers began combining it with GNU utilities, creating a complete operating system. This combination was a turning point for the free software movement.

The Commercialisation of the Free Software

Free software paved the way for innovative business models. Companies like Red Hat capitalized on this by offering support and services for free software, empowering users with flexibility and minimising vendor lock-in. Red Hat’s successful IPO in 1999 showcased the commercial viability of free software.

The observation that changed the software industry

Eric S. Raymond observed how thousands of developers collaborated online to build free software. In his essay The Cathedral and the Bazaar, he described this chaotic yet efficient process, contrasting it with traditional, hierarchical software development.

Open Source — A new terminology

The term “free software” often caused confusion in business contexts. To address this, Bruce Perens and others popularized “open source” in the late 1990s. The Open Source Initiative (OSI) established guidelines for open-source licenses, including permissive options like MIT and BSD.

Rapid Adoption with the rise of the Internet

The rise of the internet boosted open source adoption. Linux and the Apache web server became essential tools for web hosting. These projects showcased the power of community-driven development.

Mozilla for the love of an Open Web

In the late 1990s, Microsoft bundled Internet Explorer with Windows, posing a significant threat to Netscape’s browser market.

In response, Netscape’s leadership, inspired by Eric Raymond’s essay The Cathedral and the Bazaar, decided to release Netscape’s source code as part of the Mozilla project. This bold move helped preserve competition and openness on the web.

The Legacy of Open Source

Today, open source drives innovation across industries. Platforms like GitHub enable global collaboration, and open source powers critical technologies in mobile, cloud computing, and beyond. Even Microsoft, once a critic, now embraces open source.

The principles of open collaboration have expanded to hardware, ensuring that the spirit of openness continues to thrive.