Both git and mercurial arose out of discussions on the linux kernel mailing list related to a replacement for BitKeeper. (E.g. cf. http://lkml.indiana.edu/hyper

Both git and mercurial arose out of discussions on the linux kernel mailing list related to a replacement for BitKeeper. (E.g. cf. http://lkml.indiana.edu/hypermail/linux/kernel/0504.3/1404.html http://lkml.indiana.edu/hypermail/linux/kernel/0504.3/1404.h...)