Revolution OS (2001)

User Rating:

7.3/10   

Director:

J.T.S. Moore

Writer:

J.T.S. Moore (written by)

Release Date:

15 February 2002 (USA)

Genre:

Documentary | Comedy

Tagline:

Hackers, Programmers & Rebels UNITE!

Plot Keywords:

Computer Cracker | Microsoft | Open Source Software | Linux | GNU Software

Cast

Linus Torvalds	...	Himself
Richard M. Stallman	...	Himself
Eric Raymond	...	Himself
Bruce Perens	...	Himself
Larry Augustin	...	Himself
Michael Tiemann	...	Himself
Brian Behlendorf	...	Himself
Frank Hecker	...	Himself
Chris DiBona	...	Himself (Windows Refund Day Scene)
Nick Moffitt	...	Himself (Windows Refund Day Scene)
Rob Malda	...	Himself (On Inflatable Couch)
Donnie Barnes	...	Himself
Susan Egan	...	Narrator (voice)
Marc Merlin	...	Himself (Silicon Valley Linux Users' Group President)
Terry Egan	...	Himself

Runtime:

85 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English | Swedish

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

Stereo

Filming Locations:

Baylands Park - 999 E. Caribbean Drive, Sunnyvale, California, USA

Company:

Wonderview Productions

Quotes:

[when awarded the Linus Torvalds Award]
Richard M. Stallman: So, very ironic things have happened, but nothing to match this. Giving the Linus Torvalds Award to the Free Software Foundation is sort of like giving the Han Solo Award to the rebel fleet.

Movie Connections:

References "The Dukes of Hazzard" (1979)

Soundtrack:

The Free Software Song

Great view into the early history of Linux and Open Source

While this documentary only covers the early period of Linux and Open Source history (up to about 2000), it provides great insights into how the software industry got itself where it is today.

Of course, since 2000, Linux has made great strides into the server market, the desktop market (even Walmart sells computers with Linux now), and the embedded market. Cell phones, Palm PDAs, cameras, camcorders, cars, networking, Tivo, cable boxes, etc. all run by Linux now (or soon will, according to announcements from manufacturers).

The days when you needed to learn a dozen different operating systems are gone. Learn Linux and you know how everything works. The best part is that if you don't like the way something works, you can change it. That, and it's free! Make copies for all your friends, legally. Tens of thousands of high-quality free software products (office suites, graphics packages, video processing, everything imaginable). Tech support is provided by tens of thousands of volunteers.

It's hard to understand how this change from paying for software to free software happened; for many people not involved in the process, it's still news to them.

If you want to know how this all happened, Revolution OS will give you the background you need to understand the way the software business works now, and in the future.