Revolution OS (2001)

While Microsoft may be the biggest software company in the world, not every computer user is a fan of their products, or their way of doing business. While Microsoft's Windows became the ... See full summary »

Director:

J.T.S. Moore

Writer:

J.T.S. Moore

Stars:

Linus Torvalds, Richard M. Stallman, Eric Raymond

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Linus Torvalds	...	Himself - Creator, Linux Kernel
Richard M. Stallman	...	Himself - Founder, GNU Project
Eric Raymond	...	Himself - Author
Bruce Perens	...	Himself - Author, Open Source Definition
Larry Augustin	...	Himself - Co-Founder, CEO, VA Linux Systems
Michael Tiemann	...	Himself - Co-Founder, Cygnus Solutions
Brian Behlendorf	...	Himself
Frank Hecker	...	Himself - Former Netscape Systems Engineer
Chris DiBona	...	Himself (Windows Refund Day Scene)
Nick Moffitt	...	Himself (Windows Refund Day Scene)
Rob Malda	...	Himself (On Inflatable Couch)
Donnie Barnes	...	Himself - Employee, Red Hat Software
Susan Egan	...	Narrator (voice)
Marc Merlin	...	Himself (Silicon Valley Linux Users' Group President)
Terry Egan	...	Himself

Storyline

While Microsoft may be the biggest software company in the world, not every computer user is a fan of their products, or their way of doing business. While Microsoft's Windows became the most widely used operating system for personal computers in the world, many experts took issue with Microsoft's strict policies regarding licensing, ownership, distribution, and alteration of their software. The objections of many high-profile technology experts, most notably Richard Stallman, led to what has become known as "the Open Source Movement," which is centered on the belief that computer software should be free both in the economic and intellectual senses of the word. Eventually, one of Stallman's admirers, Linus Torvalds, created a new operating system called Linux, a freely distributed software which many programmers consider to be markedly superior to Windows. Revolution OS is a documentary that examines the genesis of the Open Source Movement, and explores and explains the technical and ...

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Plot Keywords:

computer cracker | computer | software company | free software | microsoft | 

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Taglines:

Hackers, Programmers & Rebels UNITE!

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Genres:

Documentary | Comedy

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Details

Official Sites:

Wonderview Productions [us]

Country:

USA

Language:

English Swedish

Release Date:

15 February 2002 (USA)

Filming Locations:

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

Box Office

Opening Weekend:

$3,500 (USA) (23 August 2002)

Gross:

$3,500 (USA) (23 August 2002)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Wonderview Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

85 min

Sound Mix:

Stereo

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Did You Know?

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.

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Connections

References The Dukes of Hazzard (1979)

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Soundtracks

"The Free Software Song"
Lyrics by Richard Stallman
Performed by The GNU/Stallmans

User Reviews

competent summary of the rise of FSF/GNU/Linux

"The Cathedral and the Bazaar" has become a modern classic, and I enjoyed the author's appearance. I'd never seen Stallman or Torvalds on the screen, either.

Totally uninteresting, possibly even devastatingly horrible and excruciatingly boring, to anyone who hasn't spent some time using and writing free software. Most of target audience probably lives in the Valley, plus a few exclusive pockets of geekdom in major cities throughout the world. You know who you are, hang your heads in shame while you watch.