Revolution OS (2001)

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 | Computer | Software Company | Free Software | Microsoft

Cast

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
Lisa Corsetti	...	Himself
David Ljung	...	Himself
José Medeiros	...	Himself
Russ Emerson	...	Himself
Patrick Devine	...	Himself
The GNU/Stallmans	...	Themselves
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Rob Antonio	...	Himself / GNU / Stallmans performer
Brian Biles	...	Himself / GNU / Stallmans performer
Kevin Collins	...	Himself / GNU / Stallmans performer
Robert Flemming	...	Himself / GNU / Stallmans performer
Bill Gates	...	Himself (archive footage)
Brad Grantham	...	Himself / GNU / Stallmans performer
Pat McGovern	...	Himself / GNU / Stallmans performer
Scott McNeil	...	Himself / GNU / Stallmans performer
John Mark Walker	...	Himself / GNU / Stallmans performer

Directed by
J.T.S. Moore

Writing credits
J.T.S. Moore		(written by)

Produced by
J.T.S. Moore	....	producer

Original Music by
Christopher Anderson-Bazzoli

Cinematography by
J.T.S. Moore

Film Editing by
J.T.S. Moore

Sound Department
Steven Balick	....	sound recordist
Bryan Franklin	....	sound re-recording mixer
Eric Shemkovitz	....	foley mixer
Eric Shemkovitz	....	sound re-recording mixer

Camera and Electrical Department
Ryan Jay	....	assistant camera

Editorial Department
Richard E. Flores	....	negative cutter (as Richard Flores)
Kelly Reese	....	telecine colorist

Music Department
Tom Strahle	....	musician: all guitars

Other crew
Douglas Bone	....	idea suggested by

Production Companies

• Wonderview Productions

Distributors

• Seventh Art Releasing (2002) (USA)

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:

[First Line]
Eric Raymond:I was at Agenda 2000, and one of the people who was there was Craig Mundy, who is some kind of high mucky-muck at Microsoft. I think Vice President of Consumer Products or something like that. And, I hadn't actually met him. I bumped into him in an elevator...

Movie Connections:

References Star Wars: Episode IV - A New Hope (1977)

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.