this post was submitted on 15 Apr 2026
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Linux

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The early days of Linux (lwn.net)
submitted 3 weeks ago by Deebster@programming.dev to c/linux@programming.dev
8 comments fedilink hide all child comments
 

I enjoyed this article by Lars Wirzenius, who has known Linus Torvalds since the 80s.

Thus, mine was the first PC where Linux was ever installed. While this was happening, I was taking a nap, and I recommend this method of installing Linux: napping, while Linus does the hard work.

Alas, early Linux networking code was occasionally a little rough, having been written from scratch. At one point, Linux would send some broken packets that took down all of the Sun machines on the network. As it was difficult to get the Sun kernel fixed, Linux was banned from the university network until its bug was fixed. Not having Usenet access from one's desk is a great motivator.

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[–] Deebster@programming.dev 22 points 3 weeks ago (2 children)

Bah, I see this was already posted here a year ago - only two comments showed up when I searched for the url before posting!

[–] MagicShel@lemmy.zip 31 points 3 weeks ago

I missed it. I think a year is fine for a repost, especially assuming the sub had grown since then.

[–] comrademiao@piefed.social 5 points 3 weeks ago (1 children)

Hopefully this isn’t Reddit where users act like everyone as read everything posted. This is interesting! Thanks for sharing

[–] thingsiplay@lemmy.ml 2 points 3 weeks ago

Or like StackOverflow... where the question was asked before and it gets closed immediately.

[–] khleedril@cyberplace.social 13 points 3 weeks ago

@Deebster ``1992 was the year of the Linux desktop.''

I'll go with that...

[–] MagnificentSteiner@lemmy.zip 10 points 3 weeks ago

More importantly for the future success of Linux was that the X11 system was ported to it, making 1992 the year of the Linux desktop.

lmao

Good read, thanks!

[–] homesweethomeMrL@lemmy.world 4 points 3 weeks ago

I missed it the first time - thanks for the repost! :)

[–] UpperBroccoli@lemmy.blahaj.zone 4 points 3 weeks ago* (last edited 3 weeks ago)

My name is Lars Wirzenius, and I was there when Linux started.