Linux以它的高效性和灵活性著称，Linux模块化的设计结构，使得它既能在价格昂贵的工作站上运行，也能够在廉价的PC机上实现全部的Unix特性，具有多任务、多用户的能力。因此，无论是在小巧的手机还是在庞大的超级计算机中，Linux的身影可谓无处不在。
今天，无处不在的开源操作系统Linux迎来了它的24岁生日。
1991年8月25日(北京时间8月26日)，来自芬兰赫尔辛基大学的Linus Torvalds在usenet的comp.os.minix新闻组中发布了Linux的***个公告，宣布了Linux的诞生。当时Linus Torvalds年仅21岁，身份还只是一名大学生，系统的制作从当年4月起就开始了。
在该年的九月，Linux Kernel 0.01发布到了芬兰大学和研究网(FUNET)上的一个FTP服务器(ftp.funet.fi)。当时仅有10239行代码，到了十月，又发布了0.02版本。
之前，也有人认为Linux的生日是9月17日，因为当天Linus才正式公布了系统的名字。然而，经过后来的一番确认，目前普遍认为应该以Linux***次出现在邮件中的时间为准，而那天正是8月25日。
如下内容是Linus Torvalds当时写的邮件原文：
Path: gmdzi!unido!fauern!ira.uka.de!sol.ctr.columbia.edu!zaphod.mps.ohio-state.edu!wupost!uunet!mcsun!news.funet.fi!hydra!klaava!torvalds
From: torv...@klaava.Helsinki.FI (LinusBenedictTorvalds)
Newsgroups: comp.os.minix
Subject:What would you like to see most in minix?
Summary: small poll formynew operating system
Keywords:386, preferences
Message-ID:<1991Aug25.205708.9541@klaava.Helsinki.FI>
Date:2***ug9120:57:08 GMT
Organization:University of Helsinki
Lines:20
Hello everybody out there using minix -
I'm doing a (free) operating system (just a hobby, won't be big and
professional like gnu)for386(486) AT clones.This has been brewing
since april,andis starting to get ready. I'd like any feedback on
things people like/dislike in minix, as my OS resembles it somewhat
(same physical layout of the file-system (due to practical reasons)
among other things).
I've currently ported bash(1.08)and gcc(1.40),and things seem to work.
This implies that I'll get something practical within a few months, and
I'd like to know what features most people would want.Any suggestions
are welcome, but I won't promise I'll implement them :-)
Linus(torv...@kruuna.helsinki.fi)
PS.Yes- it's free of any minix code, and it has a multi-threaded fs.
It is NOT protable (uses 386 task switching etc), and it probably never
will support anything other than AT-harddisks, as that's all I have :-(.
