''Rebel Code: Linux and the Open Source Revolution'' is a technology book by
Glyn Moody published in 2001. It describes the evolution and significance of the
free software
Free software, libre software, libreware sometimes known as freedom-respecting software is computer software distributed open-source license, under terms that allow users to run the software for any purpose as well as to study, change, distribut ...
and
open source
Open source is source code that is made freely available for possible modification and redistribution. Products include permission to use and view the source code, design documents, or content of the product. The open source model is a decentrali ...
movements with many interviews with notable hackers.
The british journalist Stephen Poole wrote in 2001 that the open source movement might have the effect of reducing the price people are willing to pay for other products. He also highlighted the inconsistency between the free cost of open source and the price the publishers were asking for the book.
Chris Douce wrote in 2001 that the book is an "important addition to the genre of writing that will undoubtedly become termed 'pop-computing'". He also wrote that the book raised interesting questions regarding the relationship between technology and culture, as lot of early design decisions about the
Linux kernel
The Linux kernel is a Free and open-source software, free and open source Unix-like kernel (operating system), kernel that is used in many computer systems worldwide. The kernel was created by Linus Torvalds in 1991 and was soon adopted as the k ...
were determined by
microprocessor
A microprocessor is a computer processor (computing), processor for which the data processing logic and control is included on a single integrated circuit (IC), or a small number of ICs. The microprocessor contains the arithmetic, logic, a ...
s.
Sean Jewett wrote in 2001 that "Rebel Code, despite some flaws, is a must read for those using
Linux
Linux ( ) is a family of open source Unix-like operating systems based on the Linux kernel, an kernel (operating system), operating system kernel first released on September 17, 1991, by Linus Torvalds. Linux is typically package manager, pac ...
. It helps put into perspective the decisions that were made early on, and sheds light on the revolution to come."
References
{{reflist
Basic Books books
2001 non-fiction books
Books about Linux