Lakshmipathi Ganapathi
ReportOpen source programmer and Linux kernel contributor. Creator of Webminal, a free browser-based Linux learning platform serving 500,000+ users from 2,700+ universities across 50+ countries since 2011. Contributor to Btrfs filesystem in the Linux kernel.
Webminal
Webminal is a free, browser-based Linux terminal and learning platform running since 2011 on a single server with 8GB RAM. It provides real shell access (not a simulation) for students to learn Linux commands, system administration, and programming. Features include 38 hands-on tutorials, a Root Lab powered by User Mode Linux for practicing fdisk/LVM/RAID with full root access, live command tracking via eBPF, and a shared MySQL database for SQL practice. Used by students from Harvard, MIT, Stanford, Georgia Tech, Thapar, SRMIST, and 2,700+ institutions across 50+ countries.
FOSS United Project Grant — Webminal 2026
Developer stipend to work full-time on Webminal and infrastructure costs. Milestones: Q1 — Python 2.7 to Python 3 migration, Q2 — PostgreSQL access for all users + 5 new tutorials (nginx, Podman, SSL/TLS, containers, networking), Q3 — Expand Root Lab capacity based on hardware resources, Q4 — Server upgrade + documentation.
Monthly server and infrastructure costs
Linode server hosting, domain renewal, SSL certificates, and backup storage.
| Year | Income | Expenses | Taxes | Description |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 0 INR | 180000 INR | 0 INR | Server hosting paid from personal savings. No ads, no paid plans, no VC funding. |
| 2025 | 0 INR | 180000 INR | 0 INR | Server hosting paid from personal savings. No ads, no paid plans, no VC funding. |