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Actually, Linus Torvalds originally called his new kernel Freax, but his ftp administrator friend named the kernel directory "linux" on the server. From Wikipedia:
"Linus Torvalds had wanted to call his invention Freax, a portmanteau of "freak," "free," and "x," an allusion to Unix. During the start of his work on the system, he stored the files under the name "Freax" for about a half year. Torvalds had already considered the name "Linux," but initially dismissed it as too egotistical.
In order to facilitate development, the files were uploaded to the ftp server (ftp.funet.fi) of the Helsinki University of Technology (HUT) in September 1991. Ari Lemmke, Torvald's coworker at the HUT who was responsible for the servers at the time, did not feel Freax was a good name. Consequently, he dubbed the project "Linux" without consulting Torvalds."
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_Linux
Actually, I dont believe the story of Freax being renamed Linux by someone else.
Imagine you did a project and called it KazooBang. And then I am to host it, and I rename it to LattjoLajban. What would you think then? Would you accept someone renaming YOUR project? Hell no. Linus is the owner, and Linus approves any name changer. We all know how arrogant the Linux kernel developers can be. There is no chance in hell that Linus allowed someone else to rename his project, without Linus approval.




Member since:
2007-07-27
Linus Torvalds setting the trend of calling his creation Linux. Vermaden and other follows.
Some could say it is a bit arrogant to call it Linux, or to start a conference speech with "I am your God", or to... etc etc.
Stallman said "Well, I do not call it [my creation] Stallmanix".