Who is credited with the creation of the Linux operating system?

The creation of the Linux operating system is credited to Linus Torvalds, who developed the first version of Linux in 1991. His goal was to create a free and open-source alternative to the MINIX operating system, which was used primarily for educational purposes. Torvalds's vision for Linux was to allow users to modify, distribute, and improve the software without any licensing fees, leading to a collaborative programming environment that is still prevalent today. This community-driven approach has been a fundamental aspect of Linux's growth and popularity, resulting in a wide range of distributions used in everything from servers to embedded systems.