Celebrating 30+ Years of Linux: The Force Powering Our Digital World

Forward

When asked to share some thoughts on Linux’s 34th-year anniversary, I jumped at the opportunity. Back in 2007 I had a successful career at a large proprietary software company that was flush in cash. Yet, somehow, I had been bitten by this open source bug. I wanted to be part of the community that was developing around Linux. I took a leap of faith and left that cushy job, and this decision fundamentally changed the course of my life for the better.

Since joining the Linux community I have learned so much about software development and business, but more importantly, I have learned about community and friendship. I have traveled the world and met all kinds of people. I feel a great deal of pride about the economic opportunities that we have collectively created for users in the world. I am similarly proud to work at SUSE, as SUSE has been a pillar of the Linux community since almost the beginning.

The Impact of Linux
From its humble beginnings as a student’s invention, Linux has reshaped the entire tech industry. Here at SUSE, we’ve been part of the Linux story almost from the very beginning. We don’t just use Linux; we contribute to building its future, especially for the business-critical systems that underpin our modern world.

It’s truly astonishing to consider just how deeply ingrained Linux has become in our daily lives, often without us even realizing it. Think about it:

• Your Android smartphone runs a heavily modified Linux kernel.
• When you stream Netflix, search on Google, or interact with Amazon’s cloud services, Linux is almost certainly doing the heavy lifting behind the scenes. Indeed, Linux powers an overwhelming 96.3% of the top one million web servers and forms the backbone of roughly 80% (or more) of public cloud workloads across major platforms like AWS, Azure, and Google Cloud.
• In the realm of high-performance computing, Linux is the undisputed champion: all of the world’s top 500 supercomputers currently run Linux.
• Even in the rapidly evolving gaming landscape, platforms like SteamOS, powered by Linux, are delivering dramatic improvements in performance and battery life for handheld devices.

The DNA of Modern Innovation

Linux’s impact isn’t just about market share; it’s about fundamental innovations that have transformed how we build and deploy software. Key innovations in Linux have profoundly impacted technology. Git, created in 2005, became the global standard for version control. Namespaces and cgroups formed the basis of modern container platforms like Docker and Kubernetes. With XFS, ported to Linux by SUSE and partners, Linux inherited the first true Enterprise filesystem, while BTRFS added a more modern filesystem design, and filesystem-level snapshot capabilities. Android’s kernel customizations made Linux suitable for mobile devices. Finally, Live Kernel Patching enabled security updates without reboots, crucial for critical enterprise workloads and uptime.

The Indispensable Power of Open Source

For most, Linux is the most famous and substantial open source project. Its success is a powerful testament to the open source philosophy itself: the idea that immaterial goods, like software, can be available to anyone, at any time, without restrictions. This model fosters joint development, even among companies typically considered competitors, allowing them to collaborate in a safe, open space.

Without open source, the digital world would be far more constrained. Digital transformation and inter-organizational cooperation would be impeded by slow innovation and proprietary systems. The lack of common standards would lead to more complex negotiations and compromises. Modern cloud-based companies might not exist, and software would be more expensive and monolithic, drastically altering our technology ecosystem.

In short, a world without Linux would be more closed, more expensive, and less connected—a world where innovation moves slower, and technology is shaped by fewer, more powerful players.

SUSE’s Linux Leadership

At SUSE, we’ve been deeply embedded in this journey since our founding. We released our first SUSE Linux distribution in 1994 and quickly made a name for ourselves with innovations making Linux installation and configuration far easier, and available for a much wider audience.

Our focus has always been on providing stable, secure, and reliable enterprise-grade Linux. In fact, the first version of SUSE Linux Enterprise Server (SLES) was on IBM’s s/390 mainframe computers, a platform we continue to support as IBM Z. Today, SUSE continues to lead at the forefront of enterprise IT. SLES, our flagship offering, remains the bedrock for countless mission-critical operations. We have expanded our vision to embrace the demands of modern IT landscapes. We are heavily emphasizing AI, multi-cloud, edge computing, and digital sovereignty. 

The projected growth of the Linux market–from USD 15.64B in 2027 to an estimated USD 34.90B by 2032, driven by server growth and its foundational role in critical infrastructure– underscores the enduring importance of what we do every day.

As we celebrate Linux’s remarkable journey, we at SUSE remain committed to its core principles of openness, collaboration, and innovation. We will continue to push the boundaries of what Linux can achieve, ensuring it remains the secure, reliable, and powerful foundation for the world’s most demanding business-critical environments. Because we love Linux. 

The future is open, and Linux is leading the way.