About
Andrew Stuart Tanenbaum, often known as AST, is an American-born Dutch computer scientist and retired professor emeritus at the Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam in the Netherlands. He is highly regarded in the field of computer science, particularly for his textbooks on operating systems, computer networks, and distributed systems, which are widely used in universities around the world. He is also known for MINIX, a Unix-like operating system intended for educational purposes, which served as an inspiration for Linux.
Career Timeline
Published 'Operating Systems' textbook
Tanenbaum's textbook on operating systems became a standard in universities, increasing his recognition.
Created MINIX Operating System
MINIX, created for educational purposes, influenced Linux's development, boosting Tanenbaum's reputation.
Published 'Computer Networks' textbook
Another widely adopted textbook further solidified Tanenbaum's status in computer science education.
Debate with Linus Torvalds
Debates with Linus Torvalds helped spread more awareness and usage of MINIX
Retired from Vrije Universiteit
Tanenbaum retired as professor emeritus, continuing to update his textbooks.
Legacy as Computer Science Educator
Tanenbaum's textbooks and MINIX continue to influence computer science education globally.
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Last updated: February 25, 2026