MINIX is a Unix-like computer operating system based on a microkernel architecture . Andrew S. Tanenbaum wrote the operating system so it could be used for educational purposes ; MINIX also helped Linus Torvalds design the Linux kernel . MINIX is a Unix-like computer operating system based on a microkernel architecture created by Andrew S. Tanenbaum for educational purposes ; MINIX also inspired the creation of the Linux kernel .