Linux.com: The Meteoric Rise of Linux

[ Thanks to Jeff Alami for this link. ]

"During last spring's Linux Expo, Linux was frequently said to be `coming out of the closet' in terms of business use. Well, now it's going into the closet -- the server closet. Linux has gotten enough momentum, enough press, and enough accolades that it is quickly becoming an important part of many companies' IT strategies, and is viewed as a legitimate server platform on which to run applications spanning the full spectrum, from intranet web servers to e-commerce sites."

"If you've been keeping track of Linux's meteoric rise, and know that it's eight years old, a question might occur to you: what took so long? This is a valid question, but doesn't really address the situation. Most operating systems are released among a flurry of press releases, advertising, front-page trade journal articles (`To Upgrade to WonderOS or Not: We Take a Look'), etc. -- all things perpetuated by slick marketing departments, and frequently bereft of any real, useful information. Linux is an oddity here. It started out as a purely public innovation, was shaped and expanded by hundreds, then thousands of dedicated programmers, but known only to those who love to cut their teeth on the latest and greatest. Gradually, under Linus Torvalds' purview, it gained features, and options, but never at the expense of good, solid code. Slowly, through some sort of grass-roots peristalsis, it gained access into corporations -- a print server tucked under a desk here, a CIFS/Mac file repository there."

"And then someone flipped a switch: critical mass had been attained."

Complete Story

Related Stories:

• Australian Reseller News: Embrace Linux now or miss the boat(Sep 06, 1999)
• PRNewswire: IDC Study Reveals Companies Are Increasing Their Use of The Linux Operating Environment(Aug 17, 1999)
• IT-Director: CA Rolls the Linux Bandwagon Forward(Jul 21, 1999)
• UserWeb: Open source takes wing(Jun 03, 1999)
• TechWeb: Linux To Be OS Of Choice, Researcher Says(Apr 07, 1999)
• InfoWorld: IDC: Linux likely to lead OS growth through 2003(Mar 31, 1999)
• Internet News: Linux Revolution Growing(Mar 06, 1999)
• IDC Reports 25.2 Percent Growth in Shipments of Server Operating Environments in 1998(Jan 19, 1999)