History of Linux: founder of the Linux kernel Who initiated and originally developed the Linux kernel project?

Introduction / Context:
The Linux kernel is the core component of countless servers, desktops, and embedded systems worldwide. Understanding its origins provides context for the broader open-source ecosystem, licensing, and governance models that shape modern computing.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• The question asks specifically about the founder of the Linux kernel, not the GNU project or other operating systems.
• We distinguish between the kernel itself and distributions that package it.
• Historical attribution is widely documented and unambiguous.

Concept / Approach:

Linus Torvalds began the Linux kernel as a personal project in 1991 while a student at the University of Helsinki. He announced it publicly and licensed it under terms compatible with free software ideals. The kernel later combined with GNU userland tools and other software to form complete GNU/Linux systems maintained by many distributions.

Step-by-Step Solution:

Verification / Alternative check:

Historical archives and the original Usenet announcement confirm Torvalds’s authorship. The ongoing kernel development process still recognizes him as the project’s benevolent dictator and release manager, coordinating contributions from a global developer community.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:

• Bill Gates: co-founded Microsoft; not related to founding Linux.
• Ben Thomas: not associated with Linux’s creation.
• Richard Stallman: founded the GNU project and the Free Software Foundation, not the Linux kernel.
• None of the above: incorrect because Linus Torvalds is correct.

Common Pitfalls:

Conflating GNU and Linux, or assuming the founder of GNU also founded the kernel. The combined term GNU/Linux reflects a collaboration of distinct projects with separate origins.

Final Answer:

Linus Torvalds