Linux: Difference between revisions

Revision as of 08:52, 17 June 2005

Revision as of 16:20, 17 June 2005

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[[Image:Tux.png|thumb|[[Tux]], a penguin, is the official Linux [[mascot]].]]

'''Linux''' is a [[computer]] [[operating system]] and itsit is a [[kernel (computer science)|kernel]]. It is among the most famous examples of [[free software]] and of [[open source|open-source]] development: unlike other major operating systems (such as [[Microsoft Windows|Windows]] or [[MacOS]]), its underlying [[source code]] is available to the public and anyone can freely use, modify, and redistribute it.

The term ''Linux'' strictly refers to the [[Linux kernel]], but is commonly used to describe entire [[Unix-like]] operating systems ([[GNU/Linux naming controversy|also known as]] '''GNU/Linux''') that are based on the Linux kernel combined with libraries and tools from the [[GNU]] project. [[Linux distribution]]s often bundle large quantities of software with the core system, and over 300 distributions are available [http://lwn.net/Distributions/].