Linux

Open-source operating system kernel started by Linus Torvalds in 1991, now maintained by 10,000+ contributors from 1,000+ companies. Linux demonstrates how shared software infrastructure enables coordination among thousands of autonomous contributors without centralized ownership - a precise organizational analog to mycorrhizal networks.

The GPL license functions as a cooperation enforcement mechanism analogous to mycorrhizal sanctioning: anyone can use and modify the code, but must share improvements back to the community. This prevents the tragedy of the commons and ensures bidirectional exchange. Linux now runs 100% of top 500 supercomputers, 90%+ of public cloud workloads, and powers billions of Android devices.