Linux: Difference between revisions

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A '''Linux'''-based ({{IPAc-en | audio=Linus-linux.ogg|ˈ|l|ɪ|n|ə|k|s}} {{respell|LIN|əks}}<ref>{{cite web | url = http://safalra.com/science/linguistics/linux-pronunciation/ | title = Pronunciation of ‘Linux’ | last = Safalra | date = 14 April 2007 | work = Safalra’s Website | accessdate =15 September 2009}}</ref><ref name="Foldoc09Jun06">{{cite web | url = http://foldoc.org/linux | title = Linux | accessdate =15 September 2009 | last = Free On-Line Dictionary of Computing | year = 2006 | month = June }}</ref> or {{IPAc-en|ˈ|l|ɪ|n|ʊ|k|s}} {{respell|LIN|uuks}})<ref>{{ cite newsgroup | newsgroups = comp.os.linux | title = Re: How to pronounce ''Linux''? | id = [e-mail] | date = 23 April 1992 | accessdate =9 January 2007 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.paul.sladen.org/pronunciation/ | title = How to pronounce Linux? | accessdate =17 December 2006 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.kernel.org/pub/linux/kernel/SillySounds/ | title = Linus pronouncing Linux in English and Swedish | accessdate =20 January 2007 }}</ref> [[operating system]] is a [[Unix-like]] computer operating system assembled under the model of [[free and open source software]] development and distribution. The defining component of a Linux-based operating system is the [[Linux kernel]], an [[operating system kernel]] first released 5 October 1991 by [[Linus Torvalds]].<ref>{{ cite newsgroup | title = Free minix-like kernel sources for 386-AT | author = Linus Benedict Torvalds | date = 5 October 1991 | newsgroup = comp.os.minix | id = | url = http://groups.google.com/group/comp.os.minix/msg/2194d253268b0a1b?pli=1 | accessdate =30 September 2011 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web | title = What Is Linux: An Overview of the Linux Operating System | url = https://www.linux.com/learn/resource-center/376-linux-is-everywhere-an-overview-of-the-linux-operating-system | publisher = Linux Foundation | date = 3 April 2009 | accessdate =15 August 2011 }}</ref>

The term ''Linux'' properly refers to just the operating system kernel, which by itself is rather unfunctional and limited<ref>Linus Torvalds: ''Sadly, a kernel by itself gets you nowhere. To get a working system you need a shell, compilers, a library etc. These are separate parts and may be under a stricter (or even looser) copyright. Most of the tools used with linux are GNU software [...]'' [http://ftp.funet.fi/pub/linux/historical/kernel/old-versions/RELNOTES-0.01 Notes for linux release 0.01]</ref>, since it additionally requires libraries, system tools, compilers, shell, etc. TheFor desktop, server and embedded usage, the Linux kernel is typically combined with packages from the [[GNU project]], in order to realize a usable system; the combination often being termed ‘Linux’ in popular parlance, while the GNU project recommends ‘GNU/Linux’.<ref name="lsag" /> The combination consists of:

* Linux kernel<br /> The Linux kernel is hardware-near software that allows running of the system on a large [[List of Linux supported architectures|variety of computer-architectures]] and implements program scheduling, multitasking, device drivers, memory management, etc.<ref>[http://www.kernel.org/#whatislinux The Linux Kernel Archives]</ref> Torvalds released the Linux kernel under the [[GNU General Public License]] in 1992;<ref name=linux_free>[http://ftp.funet.fi/pub/linux/historical/kernel/old-versions/RELNOTES-0.12 Release Notes for Linux v0.12]</ref> it is however not part of the GNU project.<ref>[http://www.gnu.org/gnu/gnu-linux-faq.html#allgpled Should the GNU/name convention be applied to all programs that are GPL'ed?] GNU/Linux FAQ by Richard Stallman</ref><ref>[http://www.gnu.org/gnu/gnu-linux-faq.html#whyslash Why do you write “GNU/Linux” instead of “GNU Linux”?] GNU/Linux FAQ by Richard Stallman</ref><ref>[http://www.gnu.org/gnu/gnu-linux-faq.html#claimlinux Isn't it wrong for us to label Linus Torvalds' work as GNU?] GNU/Linux FAQ by Richard Stallman</ref><ref>[http://www.gnu.org/gnu/gnu-linux-faq.html#linusagreed Does Linus Torvalds agree that Linux is just the kernel?] GNU/Linux FAQ by Richard Stallman</ref>

* GNU packages<ref name=gnu_packages>[http://www.gnu.org/software/software.html#allgnupkgs All GNU packages] (gnu.org)</ref><ref name=gnu_packages_fsf>[http://directory.fsf.org/wiki/GNU GNU @ Free Software Directory] (fsf.org)</ref><br />The GNU packages consists of numerous operating system tools and utilities ([[Bash (Unix shell)|shell]], [[coreutils]], compilers ([[GNU Compiler Collection|GCC]]), libraries, etc.)<ref name=gnu_packages /><ref name=gnu_packages_fsf /> including a library implementation of all of the functions specified in [[POSIX]] System Application Program Interface (POSIX.1).<ref>[http://www.gnu.org/software/libc/manual/html_node/POSIX.html POSIX - The GNU C Library]</ref><ref>[[GNU_C_Library#A_temporary_fork]]</ref>