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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 = 1992Apr23.123216.22024@klaava.Helsinki.FI | 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) refers to the family of [[Unix-like]] computer [[operating system]]s using the [[Linux kernel]]. 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 | 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.
A distribution oriented toward desktop use may include the [[X Window System]], the [[GNOME]] and [[KDE Plasma Workspaces|KDE Plasma]] [[desktop environment]]s. Other distributions may include a less resource intensive desktop such as [[LXDE]] or [[Xfce]] for use on older or less-powerful computers. A distribution intended to run as a server may omit any graphical environment from the standard install and instead include other software such as the [[Apache HTTP Server]] and a [[SSH server]] like [[OpenSSH]]. Because Linux is freely redistributable, it is possible for anyone to create a distribution for any intended use. Commonly used applications with desktop Linux systems include the [[Mozilla Firefox]] web browser, the [[OpenOffice.org]] or [[LibreOffice]] office application suites, and the [[GIMP]] image editor.
The name "Linux" comes from the Linux kernel, originally written in 1991 by [[Linus Torvalds]]. The main supporting [[user space]] system tools and libraries from the [[GNU Project]] (announced in 1983 by [[Richard Stallman]]) are 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 | year = 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>
==History==
===Unix===
The [[Unix]] operating system was conceived and implemented in 1969 at [[AT&T]]'s Bell Laboratories in the [[United States]] by [[Ken Thompson]], [[Dennis Ritchie]], [[Douglas McIlroy]], and [[Joe Ossanna]]. It was first released in 1971 and was initially entirely written in [[assembly language]], a common practice at the time. Later, in a key pioneering approach in 1973, Unix was re-written in the programming language [[C (programming language)|C]] by [[Dennis Ritchie]] (with exceptions to the kernel and I/O). The availability of an operating system written in a high-level language allowed easier [[porting|portability]] to different computer platforms. With a legal glitch forcing AT&T to license the operating system's source code to anyone who asked,<ref name="faqs.org">{{cite web|url=http://www.faqs.org/docs/artu/ch02s01.html |title=Origins and History of Unix, 1969–1995 |publisher=Faqs.org |date= |accessdate=2010-11-09}}</ref> Unix quickly grew and became widely adopted by academic institutions and businesses. In 1984, AT&T divested itself of Bell Labs. Free of the legal glitch requiring free licensing, Bell Labs began selling Unix as a [[Proprietary software|proprietary]] product.
[[Image:Richard Matthew Stallman cropped.jpeg|upright|thumb|left|[[Richard Stallman]], founder of the [[GNU project]]]]
===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 started 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)|daemons]], 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://www.dina.dk/~abraham/Linus_vs_Tanenbaum.html | title = Linus vs. Tanenbaum debate }}</ref>
===BSD===
Although not released until 1992 due to [[Berkeley Software Distribution#Net/2 and legal troubles|legal complications]], development of [[386BSD]], from which [[NetBSD]] and [[FreeBSD]] descended, predated that of Linux. [[Linus Torvalds]] has said that if 386BSD had been available at the time, he probably would not have created Linux.<ref name="meta">{{cite web|url=http://gondwanaland.com/meta/history/interview.html|title=The Choice of a GNU Generation – An Interview With Linus Torvalds|last=Linksvayer|first=Mike|year=1993|work=Meta magazine|accessdate=2009-01-20}}</ref>
===MINIX===
{{double image|right|AndrewTanenbaum2.png|130|Linus Torvalds cropped.jpeg|150|[[Andrew S. Tanenbaum]] (left), author of the [[MINIX]] operating system and [[Linus Torvalds]] (right), principal author of the [[Linux kernel]]}}
[[MINIX]] is an inexpensive minimal [[Unix-like]] operating system, designed for education in computer science, written by [[Andrew S. Tanenbaum]]. Starting with [[MINIX 3|version 3, MINIX]] was [[free software|free]] and redesigned for “serious” use.
In 1991 while attending the [[University of Helsinki]], Torvalds, curious about the operating systems <ref>{{cite newsgroup | title = What would you like to see most in minix? | newsgroup = comp.os.minix | id = 1991Aug25.205708.9541@klaava.Helsinki.FI | url = http://groups.google.com/group/comp.os.minix/msg/b813d52cbc5a044b | last = Torvalds | first = Linus | accessdate = 2006-09-09 }}</ref> and frustrated by the licensing of MINIX limiting it to educational use only (which prevented any commercial use), began to work on his own operating system which eventually became the [[Linux kernel]].
Torvalds began the development of the Linux kernel on MINIX, and applications written for MINIX were also used on Linux. Later Linux matured and it became possible for Linux to be developed under itself.<ref>{{cite news | title = Chicken and egg: How was the first linux gcc binary created?? | newsgroup = comp.os.minix | url = http://groups.google.com/group/comp.os.linux/msg/4ae6db18d3f49b0e }}</ref> Also GNU applications replaced all MINIX ones, because with code from the GNU system freely available, it was advantageous if this could be used with the fledgling operating system. Code licensed under the GNU GPL can be used in other projects, so long as they also are released under the same or a compatible license. In order to make the Linux available for commercial use, Torvalds initiated a switch from his original license (which prohibited commercial redistribution) to the GNU GPL.<ref>{{cite web | title = Release notes for Linux v0.12 | first = Linus | last = Torvalds | url = http://www.kernel.org/pub/linux/kernel/Historic/old-versions/RELNOTES-0.12 | authorlink = Linus Torvalds | date = 1992-01-05 | accessdate = 2007-07-23 | publisher = Linux Kernel Archives | quote = The Linux copyright will change: I've had a couple of requests to make it compatible with the GNU copyleft, removing the “you may not distribute it for money” condition. I agree. I propose that the copyright be changed so that it confirms to GNU ─ pending approval of the persons who have helped write code. I assume this is going to be no problem for anybody: If you have grievances ("I wrote that code assuming the copyright would stay the same") mail me. Otherwise The GNU copyleft takes effect since the first of February. If you do not know the gist of the GNU copyright ─ read it. }}</ref> Developers worked to integrate GNU components with Linux to make a fully functional and free operating system.<ref name="gnu history"/>
===Commercial and popular uptake===
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