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ORIGIN OF OPEN SOURCE | HOW IT STARTED ? INTERESTING FACTS | InterviewDOT

*The Birth of Open Source Projects*

Open-source software has revolutionized the way we create, share, and collaborate on technology. It started as a movement for freedom and transparency in software development, and its origins date back to the 1980s. Here’s a look into how it all began and the milestones that shaped the open-source world.

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*1. The Early Days: 1983 – GNU Project*
The foundation of open-source software was laid in *1983**, when **Richard Stallman**, a programmer at MIT, launched the **GNU Project* (GNU stands for “GNU’s Not Unix”). Stallman’s vision was to create a free and open operating system that anyone could modify and share. His efforts were fueled by frustration with the restrictive licensing practices of proprietary software.

*Significance:* GNU was the first organized effort to create free and open software.
*Key Contribution:* Development of tools and libraries that later became part of the GNU/Linux operating system.
*Impact:* Sparked a global conversation about freedom in software development.

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*2. The Free Software Foundation (FSF): 1985*
In **1985**, Stallman took his vision further by founding the **Free Software Foundation (FSF)**. This nonprofit organization provided a framework to support and promote the development of free software.

*Purpose:* Advocate for user freedom to run, study, share, and modify software.
*Interesting Fact:* FSF introduced the **GNU General Public License (GPL)**, a legal framework to ensure software remained free and open.
*Legacy:* The GPL became the gold standard for open-source licensing.

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*3. Linux Kernel: 1991*
The next major milestone came in **1991**, when **Linus Torvalds**, a Finnish computer science student, released the first version of the **Linux kernel**. Torvalds shared his code online, inviting developers around the world to contribute and improve it.

*Key Milestone:* Linux became the missing piece that GNU needed to create a complete operating system.
*Collaboration:* Thousands of developers worldwide contributed to the kernel, demonstrating the power of open collaboration.
*Current Status:* Linux powers over *90% of web servers* and is widely used in smartphones, IoT devices, and supercomputers.

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*4. The Coining of "Open Source": 1998*
The term "open source" was officially adopted in *1998* to rebrand the free software movement and make it more business-friendly. This shift helped large organizations, including corporations like IBM, Sun Microsystems, and Oracle, adopt open-source technologies.

*First Big Open-Source Success:* Netscape released its source code under an open-source license, paving the way for the **Mozilla project**.
*Cultural Shift:* Open source became synonymous with collaboration, innovation, and transparency.

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*5. Git and GitHub: 2005 and 2008*
Collaboration in open-source projects reached new heights with the development of *Git* (by Linus Torvalds in *2005**) and the launch of **GitHub* in **2008**. GitHub provided an easy way for developers to host and share code, facilitating global contributions.

*Numbers:* As of 2023, GitHub hosts over *330 million repositories* and serves **100+ million developers**.
*Impact:* Made collaboration accessible and streamlined for teams of all sizes.

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*6. Why This Matters*
Open-source software continues to grow in importance, with companies like Microsoft, Google, and Amazon actively contributing to the ecosystem. It has transformed industries by providing scalable, customizable, and cost-effective solutions.

*Empowering Developers:* Developers now have the freedom to innovate and improve upon existing technologies.
*Community Impact:* Open-source communities provide mentorship, learning opportunities, and a sense of shared purpose.

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*Conclusion*
The birth of open-source software wasn’t just a technological innovation—it was a cultural revolution. By promoting collaboration and transparency, open-source projects have reshaped how software is developed and shared. From the GNU Project to modern platforms like GitHub, open-source embodies the spirit of teamwork and innovation, impacting millions of lives and industries worldwide.