Linux: Difference between revisions

Revision as of 22:51, 25 June 2011

Revision as of 23:03, 25 June 2011

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{{Redirect3|GNU/Linux|See also [[GNU/Linux naming controversy]]}}

{{two other uses|operating systems that use the Linux kernel and the GNU libraries|the kernel itself|Linux kernel}}

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{{Infobox OS

| bodystyle = width:325px

| name = GNU/Linux

| logo = [[File:Tux.svg|150px]]

| screenshot =  

| caption = [[Tux]] the [[penguin]], mascot of the Linux kernel<ref name="LinuxOnLine2008">{{cite web

| url = http://www.linux.org/info/logos.html

| title = Linux Logos and Mascots

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'''Linux''' (commonly {{IPAc-en|icon|ˈ|l|ɪ|n|ə|k|s}} {{respell|LIN|əks}} in [[English language|English]],<ref>{{cite web|url=http://safalra.com/science/linguistics/linux-pronunciation/|title=Pronunciation of ‘Linux’|last=Safalra|date=2007-04-14|work=Safalra’s Website|accessdate=2009-09-15}}</ref><ref name="Foldoc09Jun06">{{cite web|url = http://foldoc.org/linux|title = Linux|accessdate = 2009-09-15|last = Free On-Line Dictionary of Computing|authorlink = |year = 2006|month = June}}</ref> also {{pron-en|ˈlɪnʊks}} {{respell|LIN|uuks}}<ref>Torvalds used {{IPAc-en|icon|ˈ|l|ɪ|n|ʊ|k|s}} in English.<br />{{cite newsgroup | newsgroups = comp.os.linux | title = Re: How to pronounce "Linux"? | id = [e-mail] | date = 23 April 1992 | accessdate = 2007-01-09 }}<br /> Torvalds recorded himself pronouncing the name during the 1990s. ({{IPA|/ˈlɪnʊks/}}: {{cite web | url = http://www.paul.sladen.org/pronunciation/ | title = How to pronounce Linux? | accessdate = 2006-12-17 }}) and in Swedish ({{IPA|/ˈlɪːnɤks/}}: {{cite web | url = http://www.kernel.org/pub/linux/kernel/SillySounds/ | title = Linus pronouncing Linux in English and Swedish | accessdate = 2007-01-20 }})</ref> in Europe) officially '''GNU/Linux'''<ref>Why GNU/Linux? - Richard Stallman | [http://www.gnu.org/gnu/why-gnu-linux.html]</ref> refers to the family of [[Unix-like]] computer [[operating system]]s using the [[Linux kernel]] and the [[GNU]] libraries<ref>[http://www.gnu.org/gnu/gnu-linux-faq.html#why]</ref>. Linux can be installed on a wide variety of computer [[hardware]], ranging from [[mobile phone]]s, [[tablet computer]]s, [[router]]s, and [[video game console]]s, to [[mainframe computer|mainframes]] and [[supercomputer]]s.<ref name="LinuxDevices">{{cite web|url = http://www.trl.ibm.com/projects/ngm/wp10_e.htm|title = Linux Watch|accessdate = 2009-09-29|last = [[IBM]]|authorlink = |year = 2001|month = October}}</ref><ref name="IBMLinuxWatch">{{cite web|url = http://www.linuxfordevices.com/c/a/News/Trolltech-rolls-complete-Linux-smartphone-stack/|title = Trolltech rolls "complete" Linux smartphone stack|accessdate = 2009-09-29|last = Linux Devices|authorlink = |year = 2010|month = January}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | title = IBM's newest mainframe is all Linux | url = http://www.computerworld.com/s/article/9142007/IBM_s_newest_mainframe_is_all_Linux_ | last = Computerworld | first = Patrick Thibodeau | accessdate = 2009-02-22 }}</ref><ref>{{cite news | title = Linux rules supercomputers | url = http://www.forbes.com/home/enterprisetech/2005/03/15/cz_dl_0315linux.html | last = Lyons | first = Daniel | accessdate = 2007-02-22 | work=Forbes}}</ref> Linux is a leading [[server (computing)|server]] operating system, and runs the 10 fastest [[supercomputers]] in the world.<ref>{{cite web|author=Henry Burkhardt, KSR |url=http://www.top500.org/lists/2010/06 |title=June 2010 &#124; TOP500 Supercomputing Sites |publisher=Top500.org |date= |accessdate=2010-10-30}}</ref>

The development of Linux is one of the most prominent examples of [[free and open source software]] collaboration; typically all the underlying [[source code]] can be used, freely modified, and redistributed, both commercially and non-commercially, by anyone under licenses such as the [[GNU General Public License]]. Typically Linux is packaged in a format known as a ''[[Linux distribution]]'' for desktop and server use. Some popular mainstream Linux distributions include [[Debian (operating system)|Debian]] (and its derivatives such as [[Ubuntu (operating system)|Ubuntu]]), [[Fedora (operating system)|Fedora]] and [[openSUSE]]. Linux distributions include the Linux kernel and supporting [[system utility|utilities]] and [[library (computer science)|libraries]] to fulfill the distribution's intended use.