Editing Yggdrasil Linux/GNU/X

{{short description|Linux distribution}}
{{Infobox OS
| name = Linux/GNU/X Plug-and-Play Linux
| logo = [[File:yggdrasil-linux-summer-94.JPG|250px]]
| family = [[Linux]] ([[Unix-like]])
| working_state = Obsolete
| source_model = [[Open-source software|Open source]]
| released = {{Start date and age|1992|12|8}}
| supported_platforms = [[IA-32]]
| kernel_type = [[Linux kernel]]
| userland = [[GNU Core Utilities|GNU]]
| ui = [[FVWM]]
| license = [[GNU General Public License|GNU GPL]]
}}

'''Yggdrasil Linux/GNU/X''', or '''LGX''' (pronounced ''igg-drah-sill''), is an early [[Linux distribution]] developed by [[Yggdrasil Linux/GNU/X#Yggdrasil Computing, Incorporated|Yggdrasil Computing, Incorporated]], a company founded by Adam J. Richter in [[Berkeley, California]].

Yggdrasil was the first company to create a [[live CD]] Linux distribution.<ref name="groklaw">{{ cite web | url = http://www.groklaw.net/articlebasic.php?story=20051031235811490 | title = The Daemon, the GNU and the Penguin, by Dr. Peter H. Salus - Ch. 20 | date = 1 November 2005 | first = Peter H | last = Salus | access-date = 2007-10-11 | publisher = [[Groklaw]] | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180717184057/www.groklaw.net/articlebasic.php?story=20051031235811490 | archive-date=2018-07-17 | url-status=dead }}</ref> Yggdrasil Linux described itself as a "[[Plug and play|Plug-and-Play]]" Linux distribution, automatically configuring itself for the hardware.

[[Yggdrasil]] is the World Tree of [[Norse mythology]]. The name was chosen because Yggdrasil took disparate pieces of software and assembled them into a complete product. Yggdrasil's company motto was "Free Software For The Rest of Us".<ref name="sanjose"/>

Yggdrasil is compliant with the Unix [[Filesystem Hierarchy Standard]].<ref name="review">[http://linux.feldt.com/meeting_notes/1996/0215/ygg_pnp.html Linux SIG - Yggdrasil's Plug and Play Linux]</ref>

== History and releases ==
[[File:Lgx yggdrasil fall 1993.jpg|thumb|CD-ROM of the LGX Yggdrasil Linux distribution release "Fall 1993"]]
Yggdrasil announced their ‘bootable Linux/GNU/X-based UNIX(R) clone for PC compatibles’<ref name="96ibiblio" /> on 25 November 1992<ref name="announce">{{cite mailing list |url=http://www.kclug.org/old_archives/linux-activists/1992/nov/3/0493.shtml |title=ANNOUNCEMENT: Alpha release Linux/GNU/X unix clone on CDROM for PCs |mailing-list=linux-activists |date=24 November 1992 |last=Richter |first=Adam J}}</ref> and made the first release on 8 December 1992.<ref name="groklaw" />
This alpha release contained the 0.98.1 version of the [[Linux kernel]], the v11r5 version of the [[X Window System]] supporting up to 1024x768 with 256 colours, various GNU utilities such as [[GNU Compiler Collection|their C/C++ compiler]], the [[GNU Debugger]], [[GNU Bison|bison]], [[Flex (lexical analyser generator)|flex]], and [[Make (software)|make]], [[TeX]], [[groff (software)|groff]], [[Ghostscript]], the [[Elvis (text editor)|elvis]] and [[Emacs]] editors, and various other software. Yggdrasil's alpha release required a 386 computer with 8 MB RAM and 100 MB hard disk.<ref name="announce"/> The alpha release was missing some of the [[source code]] of some of the packages, such as elvis.<ref name="announce2">{{cite mailing list |url=http://www.kclug.org/old_archives/linux-activists/1992/nov/3/0559.shtml |title=Re: ANNOUNCEMENT: Alpha release Linux/GNU/X unix clone on CDROM for PCs |mailing-list=linux-activists |date=25 November 1992 |last=Richter |first=Adam J}}</ref>

A beta release was made on 18 February 1993.<ref name="96ibiblio">{{ cite web | title = THE YGGDRASIL LINUX/GNU/X OPERATING SYSTEM DISTRIBUTION BETA CDROM | date = 18 February 1993 | access-date = 2007-10-11 | work = Order form | publisher = Yggdrasil Computing, Incorporated | url =http://www.ibiblio.org/pub/historic-linux/ftp-archives/sunsite.unc.edu/Sep-29-1996/docs/distributions/yggdrasil/announcement }}</ref><ref name="distrowatch">[http://distrowatch.com/weekly.php?issue=20041115#fdow DistroWatch.com: Put the fun back into computing. Use Linux, BSD]</ref> The beta's cost was [[US$]]60. LGX's beta release in 1993 contained the 0.99.5 version of the Linux kernel, along with other software from [[GNU]] and X.<ref name="distrowatch"/> By 22 August 1993, the Yggdrasil company had sold over 3100 copies of the LGX beta distribution.<ref name="usenet">{{cite mailing list |url=http://www.kclug.org/old_archives/linux-activists/1993/aug/3/0072.shtml |title=Re: Linux CD-ROMs in general --> Yggdrasil in particular |mailing-list=linux-activists |date=22 August 1993 |last=Richter |first=Adam J}}</ref>

The production release version carried a pricetag of US$99.<ref name="groklaw"/> However, Yggdrasil was offered for free to any developer whose software was included with the CD distribution.<ref name="offer">{{cite mailing list |url=http://www.kclug.org/old_archives/linux-activists/1993/mar/2/0519.shtml |title=Re: Linux Foundation |mailing-list=linux-activists |date=17 March 1993 |last=Richter |first=Adam J}}</ref> According to an email from the company's founder the marginal cost of each subscription was $35.70.<ref name="cost">{{cite mailing list |url=http://www.kclug.org/old_archives/linux-activists/1992/nov/4/0261.shtml |title=Re: ANNOUNCEMENT: Alpha Linux/GNU/X && Windows/NT SDK/DDK |mailing-list=linux-activists |date=30 November 1992 |last=Richter |first=Adam J}}</ref>

Early Yggdrasil releases were also available from stores selling CD-ROM software.<ref name="store">[http://timeguy.com/cradek/01161921561 Archaeology<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref>

== Yggdrasil Computing, Incorporated ==
Adam J. Richter started the Yggdrasil company together with Bill Selmeier. Richter spoke to [[Michael Tiemann]] about setting up a business, but was not interested in joining forces with [[Cygnus Solutions|Cygnus]].<ref name="groklaw"/>

Richter was a member of [[League for Programming Freedom]].<ref name="announce2" /> Richter was using only a 200 MB hard disk when building the alpha release of LGX, which prevented him from practically being able to include the source code of some of the packages contained in the CDROM.<ref name="announce2"/>

Yggdrasil Incorporated published some of the early Linux compilation books, such as ''The Linux Bible: The GNU Testament'' ({{ISBN|978-1883601201}}), and contributed significantly to file system and X Window System functionality of Linux in the early days of their operation.

The company moved to [[San Jose, California]] in 1996.<ref name="sanjose">{{ cite web | url = http://lists.debian.org/debian-user/1996/04/msg00816.html | title = Yggdrasil Debian replacement CD's have arrived | first = Adam J | last = Richter | date = 17 April 1996 | access-date = 2007-10-11 | work = debian-user mailing list | publisher = Debian.org }}</ref> In 1996, Yggdrasil Incorporated released the Winter 1996 edition of ''Linux Internet Archives''; six CDs of Linux software from Tsx-11 and Sunsite, the GNU archive on prep.ai.mit.edu, the X11R6 archives including the free contributed X11R6 software from ftp.x.org, the Internet RFC standards, and a total of nine non-Yggdrasil Linux distributions.<ref>{{ cite web | title = Linux Internet Archives | work = New Products | publisher = Linux Journal | date = 1 May 1996 | access-date = 2007-10-11 | url = http://www.linuxjournal.com/article/111 }}</ref>

The company remained active until at least year 2000, when it released the Linux Open Source DVD, but its website was taken offline afterwards and the company has not released anything since.<ref name="distrowatch"/>

The company's last corporate filing was in January 2004.<ref name=CalSOS>{{cite web |url=https://businessfilings.sos.ca.gov/frmDetail.asp?CorpID=01824239 |title=Yggdasil Computing, Incorporated |publisher=California Secretary of State |access-date=July 21, 2015}}</ref> The California Secretary of State lists it as suspended.<ref name=CalSOS/>

The company once made an offer to donate 60% of the Yggdrasil CDROM sales revenues to the [[Computer Systems Research Group]], but founder Adam J. Richter later indicated that the company would lose too much money and changed the offer accordingly, while still maintaining donations to CSRG.<ref name="csrg">[http://www.dnull.com/bsd/oldnews/bsdnew1861.html *BSD News Article 1861<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref>

The company also had volume discount plans.<ref name="discounts">{{cite mailing list |url=http://www.kclug.org/old_archives/linux-activists/1992/dec/0/0044.shtml |title=Frequently Asked Questions on Linux/GNU/X OS CDROM from Yggdrasil |mailing-list=linux-activists |date=1992-12-01 |last=Richter |first=Adam J}}</ref>

== See also ==
{{Portal|Free and open-source software}}

* [[Arena (web browser)|Arena]], a web browser once developed by Yggdrasil Computing
* [[MCC Interim Linux]]

== References ==
{{Reflist|2}}

== External links ==
* [http://www.ibiblio.org/pub/historic-linux/distributions/yggdrasil/ Yggrasil Linux/GNU/X operating system distribution from 1995] (images)
* [http://www.ibiblio.org/pub/historic-linux/ftp-archives/sunsite.unc.edu/Sep-29-1996/docs/distributions/yggdrasil/ ibiblio's mirror of 1996's release of Yggrasil Linux/GNU/X operating system distribution] (docs)
* [http://distrowatch.com/weekly.php?issue=20041115#fdow DistroWatch on Yggdrasil]
* [https://pd.spuddy.org/yggdrasil.html Yggdrasil CD images in iso format at pd.spuddy.org]

{{Linux-distro}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Yggdrasil Linux Gnu X}}
[[Category:1992 software]]
[[Category:Discontinued Linux distributions]]