HackerTube.dev

Revolution OS

Von Hash · 208.3K views · 2012-01-25 · 1:25:10

Open on YouTube ↗

If playback is restricted in your region, try opening the original video. Use Mark watched to add it to your marked videos.

Overview

Revolution OS is a feature-length documentary on the history of free software and Linux. It covers Stallman and the GNU project, Torvalds and the kernel, and Raymond and Perens on open source, starting from the era of freely shared hobbyist code.

On Hacker News

Recommended as the standard documentary on the origins of GNU, the FSF and Linux.

Recommended by 3 HN people across 3 months · HN mentions 2014–2016

Topics

Search by tags

What people said

larrydag · 2015-08 · Strong recommendation

My encounter with Linux was somewhat similar but mostly from having enough with windoze. I had called a PC repair guru for the third time because of virus's on my windoze PC in 2007. He told me about a Linux but I was skeptical thinking it was more for the uber elite hackers. I tried out the Knoppix CD and then installed SuSE. I was hooked immediately. Much like the article writer's hook with being my own "superuser". For those that haven't seen Revolution OS I would highly recommend it for much of the Linux backstory. [VIDEO]

Read the original HN comment ↗
zeeshanm · 2016-04 · Recommendation

So good to see RMS being recognized for his work. A lot of my interest in computers is due to being inspired by RMS. stallman.org is a good resource for anyone wanting to learn more. Stallman's commentary on politics is also second to none. _Revolution OS_ is a really good documentary that goes over the genesis of FSF and how Stallman played an in important role: [VIDEO]

Read the original HN comment ↗
stolio · 2015-03 · Recommendation

> I've personally tried a few distros of Linux, originally developed by Linus Torvalds. Is there some Intro To Linux we can point just people to in order to avoid things like this? The "GNU slash Linux" conversation is wearing pretty thin but it should be common knowledge at this point that the GNU project did 10 ten years of work so Linus could add the kernel and have it be the first completed system. Should we point to Revolution OS ( [VIDEO] )? Should we point to GNU's page about the issue ( [LINK] )? Without getting into any finger-pointing, it's just history and we should all know it.

Read the original HN comment ↗

Sources

Video by Von Hash, played through YouTube.

Data and selection notes

HN summaries and labels may contain AI errors. HN dates refer to discussions, not video publication.

HN Library: HackerTube export (2026-10-31) and open-index/hacker-news. Upstream summaries and classifications may contain AI errors.

Views, duration and playback status refresh separately from the published catalog. When an update fails, existing data remains visible.

Selection checks
  • SaaS & AI candidates: Matches the configured criteria
  • Editor-approved picks: Editorial review is required

Rule matches identify candidates. They do not guarantee video quality or financial results.

About the library and its sources