Saw this one the other day – https://www.linuxin.dk/node/22861 – and was sent way down memory lane. 19 years back these days. A bit of history.
Linux and Open Source
Back in the late 1990s (yes, I was a bit late into the stuff with computers) – I learnt about SCO Unix – and subsequent Linux (as the free alternative) and go very amazed about:
- What a community of people could do together
- How big a set of LEGO bricks you could get for free just to play around with and improve
- … and no this was “not toys” but real software with many years of legacy and hugely dedicated community behind it.
At university
Then I moved from the country side of Denmark (with 28.8 kbps dial-up modems at best) to Copenhagen – starting at DTU as a part of my Engineering education in Information Technology.
We clearly had the Linux fraction and the Windows fraction of people – but DTU was using Unix (Solaris) and Linux for quite a big set of courses – and SSLUG was a very active Linux User Group back then – over 5.000 members and 1-2 weekly meetup where likely minded people where meeting up.
Very soon – I found myself handing of Red Hat CD’s, Mandrake CD, etc, etc. Thus the idea was born.
Linuxpusher.dk
A webshop where people – for the mere cost of 20 DKK + shipping could get any Linux (and soon FreeBSD, etc, etc) CD using the national postal service (with day-to-day delivery).
And I even got an opportunity to strengthen my programming skills – thus the entire website was constructed in Perl/CGI – (Not that PHP thing that didnt really resemble a true programming language).
Over the next years it grew – added merchandise, games, etc. – and the tower of CD-writers grew to 6 (concurrently) when highest. Then I needed to outsource that part of the shop and made a collaboration with a guy to hold inventory, pack and ship everything for me.
When at it highest (2003/2004’ish) – over 30 CD’s daily was leaving this shop – and it took a fair amount of time. In 2004 I needed to start my masters project at university – and having student job – on the side of this – ends didn’t really match up any more and I needed to sacrifice some of the activities. Thus the webshop transitioned to the next owner back then – and then to the next and yes – the post beginning this article – marks the latest transition.
Post 2004 the internet connectivity in Denmark grew and the actual need for a service like this declined – but Linux and Open Source continued to grow – thus the merchandise part still lives.
It is hard not to be a bit proud of having initiated something that is still alive (in a different shape and form) this many years later.