**Linux** is a family of open-source [[Unix-like|Unix-like]] [[Operating system|operating systems]] based on the **Linux kernel**, a [[Kernel (operating system)|kernel]] first developed and released by [[Linus Torvalds]] in 1991. Linux is distributed in the form of [[Linux distribution|distributions]]—bundled packages combining the Linux kernel with system software, [[Package manager|package managers]], and application software—and is developed collaboratively by thousands of contributors worldwide under the governance of the [[Linux Foundation]]. It is the dominant operating system for [[Server (computing)|servers]], [[Supercomputer|supercomputers]], [[Cloud computing|cloud infrastructure]], and [[Embedded system|embedded systems]], and forms the basis of the [[Android (operating system)|Android]] mobile platform, making it the most widely deployed operating system kernel in the world by installed base. Torvalds began developing Linux as a personal project while studying at the [[University of Helsinki]], initially announcing it in August 1991 as a free alternative to [[MINIX]], a Unix-like system used for educational purposes. The kernel was released under the [[GNU General Public License]] (GPL) in 1992, enabling its integration with the [[GNU Project|GNU]] system tools developed by [[Richard Stallman]] and the [[Free Software Foundation]] to form complete operating system distributions. This combination is sometimes referred to as **GNU/Linux** to acknowledge the substantial contribution of GNU components. The collaborative development model, supported by the internet and formalized through the [[Linux kernel mailing list]] and version control systems including [[Git]], enabled rapid growth in contributor participation and technical capability throughout the 1990s and 2000s. Linux distributions vary widely in purpose and design. [[Debian]] and its derivatives, including [[Ubuntu]] and [[Linux Mint]], are widely used on desktops and servers. [[Red Hat Enterprise Linux]] (RHEL) and its community counterpart [[Fedora]], along with [[SUSE Linux Enterprise Server|SUSE]], are prominent in enterprise environments. [[Arch Linux]] and [[Gentoo]] serve users who prefer highly customizable, minimal installations. The [[Android (operating system)|Android]] platform, developed by [[Google]], uses a modified Linux kernel to power the majority of the world's [[Smartphone|smartphones]]. Linux's prominence in [[Cloud computing|cloud computing]] reflects its adoption by all major cloud providers as the default operating environment for virtual machines and [[Container (virtualization)|containers]], with [[Docker (software)|Docker]] and [[Kubernetes]] both running primarily on Linux. The operating system's development and governance are overseen by Torvalds, who continues to maintain the kernel, supported by major technology companies including [[IBM]], [[Intel]], [[Google]], and [[Red Hat]] that contribute engineering resources to its development.