Linux: Difference between revisions

Revision as of 02:47, 4 November 2009

Revision as of 14:52, 5 November 2009

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| supported_platforms = [[IA-32]], [[MIPS architecture|MIPS]], [[x86-64]], [[SPARC]], [[DEC Alpha]], [[Itanium]], [[PowerPC]], [[ARM architecture|ARM]], [[m68k]], [[PA-RISC]], [[s390]], [[SuperH]], [[M32R]] and more <!-- please do not include 64 bit extensions of 32 bit ISAs, e.g. sparc64, ppc64, x86-64, etc. -->

| license = Various including [[GNU General Public License]], [[BSD License]], [[Apache License]], and others

<ref>{{cite web | title = Debian GNU/Linux Licenses -– Ohloh | url = https://www.ohloh.net/p/debian/analyses/latest | publisher = ohloh.net | accessdate = 2009-03-27 }}</ref>

| working_state = Current

}}

'''Linux''' (commonly {{pron-en|ˈlɪnʌks}}, {{respell|LI|nuks}} in 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}}<ref>Torvalds used {{IPA|/ˈlɪnʊks/}} 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 has made available an audio sample with his pronunciation in English ({{IPA|/ˈlɪnʊks/}}: {{cite web | url = http://web.archive.org/web/20080113123140/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>) is a generic term referring to [[Unix-like]] computer [[operating system]]s based on the [[Linux kernel]]. Their development 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 the terms of the [[GNU GPL license|GNU GPL]].

Linux is predominantly known for its use in [[server (computing)|server]]s, although can be installed on a wide variety of computer [[hardware]], ranging from [[embedded devices]], mobile phones and even some watches<ref name="IBMLinuxWatch"> {{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> to [[supercomputers]].<ref>{{cite web | 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 }}</ref> [[Linux distribution]]s, installed on both desktop and laptop computers, have become increasingly commonplace in recent years, partly owing to the popular [[Ubuntu (operating system)|Ubuntu]] distribution<ref name="Economist"> {{cite web|url = http://www.economist.com/science/displaystory.cfm?story_id=10410912|title = Technology in 2008|accessdate = 2008-04-01 (publicly available Dec 2007- – May 2009, rendered members only in May 2009, quoted at [http://web.ncf.ca/fn352/ubuntu.html#Economist National Capital FreeNet]|last = The Economist|authorlink = |year = 2007|month = December}}</ref> and the emergence of [[netbook]]s.<ref name="Economist04Dec08">{{cite news|url = http://www.economist.com/science/tq/displaystory.cfm?story_id=12673233|title = Small is beautiful|accessdate = 2008-12-21|last = [[The Economist]]|authorlink = |year = 2008|month = December}}</ref>

The name "Linux" comes from the Linux kernel, originally written in 1991 by [[Linus Torvalds]]. The rest of the system usually comprises components such as the [[Apache HTTP Server]], the [[X Window System]], the [[GNOME]] and [[KDE]] [[desktop environment]]s, and [[system utility|utilities]] and [[library (computer science)|libraries]] from the [[GNU Project]] (announced in 1983 by [[Richard Stallman]]). Commonly-used applications with desktop Linux systems include the [[Mozilla Firefox]] web-browser and the [[OpenOffice.org]] office application suite. The GNU contribution is the basis for the [[Free Software Foundation]]'s preferred name ''[[GNU/Linux naming controversy|GNU/Linux]]''.<ref name="lsag">{{ cite book | url = http://www.tldp.org/LDP/sag/html/sag.html#GNU-OR-NOT | title = Linux System Administrator's Guide | chapter = 1.1 | edition = version 0.9 | date = 2004 | accessdate = 2007-01-18 | first = Alex | last = Weeks }}</ref><ref name="gnu_homepage">{{cite web|url=http://www.gnu.org/ |title=The GNU Operating System |publisher=Gnu.org |accessdate=2009-04-17}}</ref>

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===GNU===

The [[GNU Project]], started in 1983 by [[Richard Stallman]], had the goal of creating a "''complete Unix-compatible software system''" composed entirely of [[free software]]. Work began in 1984.<ref name="gnu_announce">{{cite web|url=http://www.gnu.org/gnu/initial-announcement.html |title=About the GNU Project -– Initial Announcement |publisher=Gnu.org |date=2008-06-23 |accessdate=2009-03-09}}</ref> Later, in 1985, Stallman created the [[Free Software Foundation]] and wrote the [[GNU General Public License]] (GNU GPL) in 1989. By the early 1990s, many of the programs required in an operating system (such as libraries, [[compiler]]s, [[text editor]]s, a [[Unix shell]], and a windowing system) were completed, although low-level elements such as [[device driver]]s, [[daemon (computer software)|daemon]]s, and the [[Kernel (computer science)|kernel]] were stalled and incomplete.<ref name="gnu history">{{cite web|url=http://www.gnu.org/gnu/gnu-history.html |title=Overview of the GNU System |publisher=Gnu.org |date= |accessdate=2009-03-09}}</ref> Linus Torvalds has said that if the GNU kernel had been available at the time (1991), he would not have decided to write his own.<ref>{{cite web | url = http://people.fluidsignal.com/~luferbu/misc/Linus_vs_Tanenbaum.html | title = Linus vs. Tanenbaum debate }}</ref>

=== MINIX ===

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{{cite web|url = http://www.pcworld.com/businesscenter/article/151568/ballmer_still_searching_for_an_answer_to_google.html|title = Ballmer Still Searching for an Answer to Google|accessdate = 2009-06-04|last = Niccolai|first = James|authorlink = |year = 2008|month = September}}</ref>

Estimates for the desktop market share of Linux range from less than one percent to 10-1210–12 percent. In comparison, [[List of Microsoft operating systems|Microsoft operating systems]] hold more than 85%.<ref name="galli2007"/><ref name="paul2007"/><ref name="beer2007"/><ref name="applications2007"/><ref name="xitimonitor2007"/><ref name="globalstats2007"/><ref name="zeitgeist2004"/><ref name="Byfield04May09"> {{cite web|url = http://itmanagement.earthweb.com/osrc/article.php/12068_3818696_2/Linux-Desktop-Market-Share-Greater-Than-One-Percent.htm|title = Linux Desktop Market Share: Greater Than One Percent?|accessdate = 2009-05-06|last = Byfield|first = Bruce|authorlink = |year = 2009|month = May}}</ref><ref name="Schroder28May09"> {{cite web|url = http://blog.linuxtoday.com/blog/2009/05/1-linux-microso.html|title = Tiny 1% Linux = Big Microsoft Terror|accessdate = 2009-05-30|last = Schroder|first = Carla|authorlink = |year = 2009|month = May}}</ref><ref name="W3CCounterJuly09"> {{cite web|url = http://www.w3counter.com/globalstats.php|title = W3Counter -– Global Webstats|accessdate = 2009-08-22|last = Awio Web Services|authorlink = |year = 2009|month = August}}</ref>

The frictional cost of switching operating systems and lack of support for certain hardware and application programs designed for [[Microsoft Windows]] have been two factors that have inhibited adoption. Proponents and analysts attribute the relative success of Linux to its security, reliability,<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www-306.ibm.com/software/info/features/feb152005/ | title = Why customers are flocking to Linux }}</ref> low cost, and freedom from [[vendor lock-in]].<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.ca.com/za/news/2005/20051010_linux.htm| title = The rise and rise of Linux }}</ref>

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The [[OLPC XO-1|XO laptop]] project of One Laptop Per Child is creating a new and potentially much larger Linux community, planned to reach millions of schoolchildren and their families and communities in developing countries.<ref>{{cite web|title=mission|url=http://www.laptop.org/en/vision/mission/index.shtml|publisher=laptop.org|accessdate=2008-08-14}}</ref> [[Google]], [[Red Hat]], and [[eBay]] are major supporters of the project.<ref>[http://www-static.laptop.org/vision/progress/ One Laptop per Child (OLPC), a low-cost, connected laptop for the world's children's education]</ref> While the XO will also have a Windows option, it will be primarily deployed using [[Sugar (desktop environment)|Sugar]], a desktop environment for [[Fedora (operating system)|Fedora]] Linux.

In the film industry, Linux has been the platform of choice for several years. The first major film produced on Linux servers was [[Titanic (1997 film)|Titanic]] in 1997. Since then major studios like [[Dreamworks Animation]], [[Pixar]] and [[Industrial Light & Magic]] have moved to Linux.<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.linuxjournal.com/article/5472 | title = Industry of Change: Linux Storms Hollywood | accessdate = 2009-03-11 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url = http://video.fosdem.org/2008/maintracks/FOSDEM2008-tuxwithshades.ogg | title = Tux with Shades, Linux in Hollywood | accessdate = 2009-03-11 }}</ref> Currently more than 95% of the servers and desktops at large animation and visual effects companies use Linux.<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.linuxmovies.org/ | title = LinuxMovies.org -– Advancing Linux Motion Picture Technology | accessdate = 2009-03-11 }}</ref>

{{See also|Usage share of desktop operating systems|List of Linux computers}}

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The Linux kernel and most GNU software are [[software license|license]]d under the [[GNU General Public License]] (GPL). The GPL requires that anyone who distributes the Linux kernel must make the source code (and any modifications) available to the recipient under the same terms. In 1997, Linus Torvalds stated, “Making Linux GPL'd was definitely the best thing I ever did.”<ref>{{cite web | url = http://kde.sw.com.sg/food/linus.html | title = Linus Torvalds interview | accessdate = 2007-09-13 |archiveurl=http://web.archive.org/web/20070311190841/http://kde.sw.com.sg/food/linus.html |archivedate=2007-03-11}}</ref> Other key components of a Linux system may use other licenses; many libraries use the [[GNU Lesser General Public License]] (LGPL), a more permissive variant of the GPL, and the [[X Window System]] uses the [[MIT License]].

Torvalds states that the Linux kernel will not move from version 2 of the GPL to version 3. He specifically dislikes some provisions in the new license which prohibit the use of the software in [[digital rights management]],<ref>{{cite web | url=http://lkml.org/lkml/2006/1/25/273 | title=Re: GPL V3 and Linux ─ Dead Copyright Holders | author=Torvalds, Linus | date=2006-01-26 | publisher=[[Linux Kernel Mailing List]]}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=http://lkml.org/lkml/2006/9/25/161 | title=Re: GPLv3 Position Statement | author=Torvalds, Linus | date=2006-09-25 | publisher=[[Linux Kernel Mailing List]]}}</ref> and it would also be impractical to obtain permission from all the copyright holders, who number in the thousands.<ref>[http://www.linux-watch.com/news/NS3301105877.html Linux-Watch.com --– Keeping an Eye on the Penguin]</ref>

A 2001 study of [[Red Hat Linux]] 7.1 found that this distribution contained 30 million [[source lines of code]]. Using the [[COCOMO|Constructive Cost Model]], the study estimated that this distribution required about eight thousand man-years of development time. According to the study, if all this software had been developed by conventional [[proprietary software|proprietary]] means, it would have cost about ${{formatprice|{{inflation|US|1080000000|2000}}|0}} ({{CURRENTISOYEAR}} US dollars) to develop in the United States.<ref name = "estimating_size">{{cite web | first = David A | last = Wheeler | date = 2002-07-29 | url = http://www.dwheeler.com/sloc/redhat71-v1/redhat71sloc.html | title = More Than a Gigabuck: Estimating GNU/Linux's Size | accessdate = 2006-05-11 }}</ref>