Operating system: Difference between revisions

Revision as of 19:51, 10 January 2025

Revision as of 16:26, 18 January 2025

Line 543:

[[Linux]] is a [[free software]] distributed under the [[GNU General Public License]] (GPL), which means that all of its derivatives are legally required to release their [[source code]].{{sfn|Silberschatz et al.|2018|pp=779–780}} Linux was designed by programmers for their own use, thus emphasizing simplicity and consistency, with a small number of basic elements that can be combined in nearly unlimited ways, and avoiding redundancy.{{sfn|Tanenbaum|Bos|2023|pp=713–714}}

Its design is similar to other UNIX systems not using a [[microkernel]].{{sfn|Silberschatz et al.|2018|p=780}} It is written in [[C (programming language)|C]]<ref>{{cite news |last1=Vaughan-Nichols |first1=Steven |title=Linus Torvalds prepares to move the Linux kernel to modern C |url=https://www.zdnet.com/article/linus-torvalds-prepares-to-move-the-linux-kernel-to-modern-c/ |access-date=7 February 2024 |work=ZDNET |date=2022 |language=en}}</ref> and uses [[UNIX System V]] syntax, but also supports [[BSD]] syntax. Linux supports standard UNIX networking features, as well as the full suite of UNIX tools, while [[multiuser|supporting multiple users]] and employing [[preemptive multitasking]]. Initially of a minimalist design, Linux is a flexible system that can work in under 16 [[megabytes|MB]] of [[RAM]], but still is used on large [[multiprocessor]] systems.{{sfn|Silberschatz et al.|2018|p=780}} Similar to other UNIX systems, Linux [[SoftwareLinux distrodistribution|distribution]]s are composed of a [[Linux kernel|kernel]], [[system library|system libraries]], and [[system utilities]].{{sfn|Silberschatz et al.|2018|p=781}} Linux has a [[graphical user interface]] (GUI) with a desktop, folder and file icons, as well as the option to access the operating system via a [[command line]].{{sfn|Tanenbaum|Bos|2023|pp=715–716}}

[[Android (operating system)|Android]] is a partially open-source operating system closely based on Linux and has become the most widely used operating system by users, due to its popularity on [[smartphones]] and, to a lesser extent, [[embedded system]]s needing a GUI, such as "[[smart watch]]es, [[Android Automotive|automotive dashboard]]s, airplane seatbacks, [[medical devices]], and [[home appliance]]s".{{sfn|Tanenbaum|Bos|2023|pp=793–794}} Unlike Linux, much of Android is written in [[Java (programming language)|Java]] and uses [[object-oriented design]].{{sfn|Tanenbaum|Bos|2023|p=793}}