DowJones.com/WSJ: How Get-Rich Hopes Of Linux Techies Went Up in Flames

"Forget for a moment what you've read about techno-savvy twentysomethings making a fortune on initial public offerings.

"When thousands of computer buffs received an offer for what amounted to free money -- the chance to get in on one of Wall Street's hottest IPOs this year -- some of them blew it.

"Instead, they wound up fuming -- and flaming -- as the stock of Linux software vendor Red Hat Inc. soared sixfold in its first three days of trading..."

"Red Hat's special offer was intended as a means of paying back programmers who have done volunteer work on Linux... Instead, hundreds of the programmers didn't -- or couldn't -- cash in."

Complete story.