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Bitcoin story and Linux

The bitcoin project is interesting. I see a big parallel with Linux.

!! Linux

Linux started in 1992 (well end of 1991). The first time I heard about
Linux was in a usenix local meeting. In may 1992. No idea what the speaker was talking about. A free Unix or something like it. Why ?

At that time, we were witnessing the rise of Windows. Windows 1 2 and 3 were a no-go. Windows 3 was useful to play solitaire. But Windows 3.1 took
off. The Unix enthusiasts were looking for a way to promote a non-proprietary operating system. We were looking for cheaper offering. Something
that would work on a normal PC, not just on an expensive workstation.

In September 1992, I finally downloaded four disks (1.4megs each) of the SLS Linux distribution. I installed it on a PC, boot it and then there was
a login prompt like this.

!login:

I entered
!root
and then enter and enter to skip the password and there I was. I typed the following commands.

!ls

!ls & ls

And I knew this was like Unix. All over the world, the word traveled and tons of people started using this new system. People
were excited. But the "serious" people knew better. A system made by volunteers can't work. You need some economic system to
support its development. There was none, so Linux was doomed.

>For many, this was just a flash in a pan. Impressive for a few seconds and then ... nothing.

So the Linux wave started to ride around the world, without apparently, any economic system to support it. By 1993, it was obvious
it was a 
!really big flash in a pan.
By 1994, the "flash in a pan" theory was not flying that well. Was there some economic system
supporting Linux development and usage after all ? Clearly.

The path to Linux dominance was far from easy. Today most servers are running Linux, most phones. Well, almost everything.

!! Bitcoin

Back to Bitcoin. It appeared 8 years ago. And it does not seem to go away. How many bubbles were predicted. The consensus among
"serious" people seems to be.

*It serves no legit purpose.
*It is useful to criminals.
*It fixes no problems, since the current system works perfectly.

As the time pass, many "serious" people are investing. Its value keeps climbing.

Maybe the world needs bitcoins after all.