The Linux Foundation (LF) is a nonprofit organization formed in 2007 to support the development of Linux and open-source software. The foundation provides hosted projects with governance structures and shared legal and operational services.
Originally focused primarily on Linux, the foundation has expanded into an umbrella organization for open-source projects and foundations across areas including cloud computing, artificial intelligence, software security, networking, and embedded systems. Its ecosystem includes the Cloud Native Computing Foundation (CNCF), which hosts Kubernetes; the PyTorch Foundation; and the Open Source Security Foundation (OpenSSF).
History The Linux Foundation started as the Free Standards Group and Open Source Development Labs in 2000 to standardize and promote the open-source operating system kernel Linux. They merged in 2007. The foundation has since evolved to promote open-source projects beyond the Linux OS as a "foundation of foundations" that hosts a variety of projects spanning topics such as cloud, networking, blockchain, and hardware. The foundation also hosts annual educational events among the Linux community, including the Linux Kernel Developers Summit and the Open Source Summit.
Projects , the total economic value of the development costs of Linux Foundation Collaborative Projects was estimated at $5 billion.
Project name Description AllJoyn AllJoyn is an open-source software framework that allows compatible devices and applications to find each other, communicate, and collaborate across the boundaries of product category, platform, brand, and connection type. Automotive Grade Linux Automotive Grade Linux is a collaborative open-source project developing a Linux-based, open platform for the connected car that can serve as the de facto standard for the industry. Although initially focused on In-Vehicle Infotainment (IVI), the AGL roadmap includes instrument clusters, heads-up displays, telematics, and autonomous driving. The goals of AGL are to provide: An automotive-focused core Linux operating system stack that meets common and shared requirements of the automotive ecosystem A transparent, collaborative, and open environment for Automotive OEMs, Tier One suppliers, and their semiconductor and software vendors to create in-vehicle software A collective voice for working with other open-source projects and developing new open-source solutions