Linux: Difference between revisions

Revision as of 11:27, 7 January 2013

Revision as of 11:37, 7 January 2013

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| caption = [[Tux]] the penguin, mascot of Linux<ref name="LinuxOnLine2008">{{cite web | url = http://www.linux.org/info/logos.html | title = Linux Logos and Mascots | accessdate =11 August 2009 | last = Linux Online | year = 2008 }}</ref>

| family = [[Unix-like]]

| author developer = [[Linus Torvalds]]Many

| developer = [[Linus Torvalds]] and a loosely-knit team of hackers across the Net

| source model = [[Free and open source software]]

| frequently updated = yes <!-- Release version update? Don't edit this page, just click on the version number! -->

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| kernel type = [[Monolithic kernel|Monolithic]]

| ui = Many

| released = 0.01 {{Release date and age|1991|09|17}}

| programmed in = [[C (programming language)|C]], [[Assembly language|assembly]]Various

| prog language = Many

| userland = Various

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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 Linux kernel was originally developed as a free kerneloperating system for [[Intel x86]]-based personal computers. It has since been [[porting|ported]] to more computer hardware platforms than any other kerneloperating system.{{fact|date=December 2012}}It Linuxis based operating systems are thea leading operating system type on [[server (computing)|server]]s and other [[big iron]] systems such as [[mainframe computer]]s and [[supercomputer]]s:<ref name="LinuxDevices">{{cite web | url = http://www.trl.ibm.com/projects/ngm/wp10_e.htm | title = Linux Watch | accessdate =29 September 2009 | last = [[IBM]] | 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 =29 September 2009 | last = Linux Devices | 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 =22 February 2009 }}</ref><ref name="rules_supercomputers">{{ 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 =22 February 2007 | work = Forbes | date = 15 March 2005}}</ref> more than 90% of today's [[TOP500|500 fastest supercomputers]] run some variant of Linux,<ref name="Top500 OS list">{{cite web | url = http://www.top500.org/overtime/list/32/os | title = Top500 OS chart | publisher = Top500.org | accessdate =31 October 2010}}</ref> including the 10 fastest.<ref>{{cite web | author = Henry Burkhardt, KSR | url = http://www.top500.org/lists/2011/06 | title = June 2011 &#124; TOP500 Supercomputing Sites | publisher = Top500.org | accessdate =15 September 2011}}</ref> Linux also runs on [[embedded system]]s (devices where the operating system is typically built into the [[firmware]] and highly tailored to the system) such as mobile phones, [[tablet computer]]s, network [[router (computing)|router]]s, televisions<ref>{{cite web | title = Sony Open Source Code Distribution Service | url = http://products.sel.sony.com/opensource/ | publisher = Sony Electronics | accessdate =8 October 2011}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | title = Sharp Liquid Crystal Television Instruction Manual | url = http://files.sharpusa.com/Downloads/ForHome/HomeEntertainment/LCDTVs/Manuals/Archive/tel_man_LC32_37_42HT3U.pdf | publisher = Sharp Electronics | accessdate =8 October 2011 | page=24}}</ref> and [[video game console]]s; the [[Android (operating system)|Android]] system in wide use on mobile devices is built on the Linux kernel.

The development of Linux is one of the most prominent examples of [[free and open source software]] collaboration: the underlying [[source code]] may be used, modified, and distributed—commercially or 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]] and [[Linux Mint]]), [[Fedora (operating system)|Fedora]] (and its derivatives such as [[Red Hat Enterprise Linux]] and [[CentOS]]), [[Mandriva Linux|Mandriva]]/[[Mageia]], [[OpenSUSE]], and [[Arch Linux]]. Linux distributions include the Linux kernel, supporting [[System software|utilities]] and [[library (computer science)|libraries]] and usually a large amount of application software to fulfill the distribution's intended use.

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==History==

{{main|History of Linux}}

=== Antecedents ===

{{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]]}}

====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 |accessdate=9 November 2010}}</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.

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====GNU====

[[Image:Richard Matthew Stallman cropped.jpeg|upright|thumb|[[Richard Stallman]], founder of the [[GNU project]]]]

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=23 June 2008 |accessdate=9 March 2009}}</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 |accessdate=9 March 2009}}</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>

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[[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]] in 2005, MINIX became [[free software|free]] and was redesigned for "serious" use.

=== Genesis ===

In 1991 while attending the [[University of Helsinki]], Torvalds became curious about operating systems<ref>{{cite newsgroup | title = What would you like to see most in minix? | newsgroup = comp.os.minix | id = [e-mail] | url = http://groups.google.com/group/comp.os.minix/msg/b813d52cbc5a044b | last = Torvalds | first = Linus | accessdate =9 September 2006 }}</ref> and frustrated by the licensing of MINIX, which limited it to educational use only. He began to work on his own operating system which eventually became the [[Linux kernel]].

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[[File:Ubuntu Desktop 12.10 Screenshot.png|thumb|[[Ubuntu (operating system)|Ubuntu]], a popular Linux distribution]]

{{Main|Linux adoption}}

Today, Linux systems are used in every ___domain, from [[embedded system]]s to [[supercomputer]]s,<ref name="rules_supercomputers"/><ref>{{cite web | title = Linux system development on an embedded device | url = http://www-128.ibm.com/developerworks/library/l-embdev.html | first = Anand | last = Santhanam | coauthors = Vishal Kulkarni | work = DeveloperWorks | publisher = IBM | date = 1 March 2002 | accessdate =26 July 2007 }}</ref> and have secured a place in [[server (computing)|server]] installations often using the popular [[LAMP (software bundle)|LAMP]] application stack.<ref>{{cite web| last = Schrecker| first = Michael| title = Turn on Web Interactivity with LAMP | url = http://www.techsoup.org/learningcenter/webbuilding/page5067.cfm | accessdate =22 February 2007}}</ref> Use of Linux distributions in home and enterprise desktops has been growing.<ref name="galli2007">{{cite news | first=Peter | last=Galli | title=Vista Aiding Linux Desktop, Strategist Says | date=8 August 2007 | publisher=Ziff Davis Enterprise Inc. | url =http://www.eweek.com/c/a/Linux-and-Open-Source/Vista-Aiding-Linux-Desktop-Strategist-Says/ | work =eWEEK | accessdate =19 November 2007 }}</ref><ref name="paul2007">{{cite news | first=Ryan | last=Paul | title=Linux market share set to surpass Win 98, OS X still ahead of Vista | date=3 September 2007 | publisher=Ars Technica, LLC | url =http://arstechnica.com/news.ars/post/20070903-linux-marketshare-set-to-surpass-windows-98.html | work =Ars Technica | accessdate =19 November 2007 }}</ref><ref name="beer2007">{{cite news | first=Stan | last=Beer | title=Vista to play second fiddle to XP until 2009: Gartner | date=23 January 2007 | publisher=iTWire | url =http://www.itwire.com.au/content/view/8842/53/ | work =iTWire | accessdate =19 November 2007 }}</ref><ref name="applications2007">{{cite web|url=http://marketshare.hitslink.com/report.aspx?qprid=2&qpmr=15&qpdt=1&qpct=3&qptimeframe=Y |title=Operating System Marketshare for Year 2007 |accessdate=19 November 2007 |date=19 November 2007 |work=Market Share |publisher=Net Applications }}</ref><ref name="xitimonitor2007">{{cite news | title=Vista slowly continues its growth; Linux more aggressive than Mac OS during the summer | date=24 September 2007 | publisher=AT Internet/XiTi.com | url =http://www.xitimonitor.com/en-us/internet-users-equipment/operating-systems-august-2007/index-1-2-7-107.html | work =XiTiMonitor | accessdate =19 November 2007 }}</ref><ref name="globalstats2007">{{cite web|url=http://www.w3counter.com/globalstats.php |title=Global Web Stats |accessdate=19 November 2007 |date=10 November 2007 |work=W3Counter |publisher=Awio Web Services LLC }}</ref><ref name="zeitgeist2004">{{cite web|url=http://www.google.com/press/zeitgeist/zeitgeist-jun04.html |title=June 2004 Zeitgeist |accessdate=19 November 2007 |date=12 August 2004 |work=Google Press Center |publisher=Google Inc. }}</ref> They have also gained popularity with various local and national governments. The federal government of Brazil is well known for its support for Linux.<ref>{{cite web | url = http://news.cnet.com/Brazils-love-of-Linux/2009-1042_3-6245409.html | title = Brazil's love of Linux | accessdate =21 February 2009 }}</ref><ref>{{cite news | url = http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/business/3445805.stm | title = Brazil falls in love with Linux | accessdate =21 February 2009 |work=BBC News | date=1 February 2004 | first=Mark | last=Ashurst}}</ref> News of the Russian military creating its own Linux distribution has also surfaced, and has come to fruition as the G.H.ost Project.<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.osor.eu/news/lv-minister-open-standards-improve-efficiency-and-transparency | title = LV: Minister: "Open standards improve efficiency and transparency" | accessdate =21 February 2009 }}</ref> The Indian state of [[Kerala]] has gone to the extent of mandating that all state high schools run Linux on their computers.<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.businessweek.com/globalbiz/content/sep2006/gb20060921_463452.htm | title = Linux Spreads its Wings in India | accessdate =21 February 2009 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.indianexpress.com/news/kerala-shuts-windows-schools-to-use-only-linux/280323/0 | title = Kerala shuts windows, schools to use only Linux | accessdate =22 June 2009 }}</ref> [[People's Republic of China|China]] uses Linux exclusively as the operating system for its [[Loongson]] processor family to achieve technology independence.<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.mdronline.com/watch/watch_Issue.asp?Volname=Issue+%23110308&on=1 | title = China’s Microprocessor Dilemma | accessdate =15 April 2009 | publisher = [[Microprocessor Report]] }}</ref> In Spain some regions have developed their own Linux distributions, which are widely used in education and official institutions, like [[gnuLinEx]] in Extremadura and [[Guadalinex]] in Andalusia. [[Portugal]] is also using its own Linux distribution [[Caixa Mágica]], used in the Magalhães netbook<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.caixamagica.pt/pag/f_notc00.php?id=213 | title = Magalhães equipped with Linux Caixa Mágica}}</ref> and the e-escola government program.<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.caixamagica.pt/pag/f_notc00.php?id=204 | title = Oferta CM no programa e-Escolas surpreende o mercado}}</ref> France and Germany have also taken steps toward the adoption of Linux.<ref>{{cite news | url = http://seattlepi.com/business/48925_linuxop01.shtml | title = Some countries are choosing Linux systems over Microsoft | accessdate =21 February 2009 | work=Seattle Post-Intelligencer | first=Jim | last=Krane | date=30 November 2001}}</ref>

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Most distributions also include support for [[PHP]], [[Perl]], [[Ruby programming language|Ruby]], [[Python programming language|Python]] and other [[dynamic programming language|dynamic languages]]. While not as common, Linux also supports [[C Sharp (programming language)|C#]] (via [[Mono (software)|Mono]]), [[Vala (programming language)|Vala]], and [[Scheme programming language|Scheme]]. A number of [[Java Virtual Machine]]s and development kits run on Linux, including the original Sun Microsystems JVM ([[HotSpot]]), and IBM's J2SE RE, as well as many open-source projects like [[Kaffe]] and [[JikesRVM]].

[[GNOME]] and [[KDE]] are popular [[desktop environment]]s and provide a framework for developing applications. These projects are based on the [[GTK+]] and [[Qt (toolkit)|Qt]] [[widget toolkit]]s, respectively, which can also be used independently of the larger framework. Both support a wide variety of languages. There are a number of [[Integrated development environment]]s available including [[Anjuta]], [[Code::Blocks]], [[CodeLite]], [[Eclipse (computing)|Eclipse]], [[Gambas]], [[Geany]], [[ActiveState Komodo]], [[KDevelop]], [[Lazarus (software)|Lazarus]], [[MonoDevelop]], [[NetBeans]], [[Qt Creator]] and [[Omnis Studio]], while the long-established editors [[Vim (text editor)|Vim]], [[GNU nano|nano]] and [[Emacs]] remain popular.<ref>{{cite web | first = Joe | last = Brockmeier | title = A survey of Linux Web development tools | url = http://programming.linux.com/programming/05/10/03/1828224.shtml?tid=63&tid=47 | accessdate =16 December 2006 }}</ref>

==Uses==

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Many popular applications are available for a wide variety of operating systems. For example [[Mozilla Firefox]], [[OpenOffice.org]]/[[LibreOffice]] and [[Blender (software)|Blender]] have downloadable versions for all major operating systems. Furthermore, some applications were initially developed for Linux, such as [[Pidgin (software)|Pidgin]], and [[GIMP]], and were ported to other operating systems including [[Microsoft Windows|Windows]] and [[Mac OS X]] due to their popularity. In addition, a growing number of proprietary desktop applications are also supported on Linux;<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.iist.unu.edu/globaldesktop/ | title = The Global Desktop Project, Building Technology and Communities|accessdate =7 May 2006 }}</ref> see [[List of proprietary software for Linux]]. In the field of animation and visual effects, most high end software, such as [[Maya (software)|Autodesk Maya]], Softimage XSI and [[Shake (software)|Apple Shake]], is available for Linux, Windows and/or Mac OS X. There are also [[Linux gaming#Commercial games|several companies]] that have ported their own or other companies' games to Linux, with Linux also being a supported platform on both the popular [[Steam (software)|Steam]] and [[Desura]] digital distribution services.<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.gamingonlinux.com/index.php?threads/a-2012-review-and-whats-in-store-for-2013.1591/ | title = A 2012 review and what's in store for 2013?| accessdate=2013-01-02 | last=Dawe |first=Liam | date =2013-01-01 | publisher=Gaming on Linux}}</ref>

Many other types of applications available for Microsoft Windows and Mac OS X are also available for Linux. Commonly, either a [[free software]] application will exist which does the functions of an application found on another operating system, or that application will have a version that works on Linux, such as with [[Skype]] and some [[Linux gaming#Commercial games|video games]]. {{Citation needed|date=May 2011}} Furthermore, the [[Wine (software)|Wine]] project provides a Windows compatibility layer to run unmodified Windows applications on Linux. [[CrossOver]] is a proprietary solution based on the open source [[Wine (software)|Wine]] project that supports running Windows versions of [[Microsoft Office]], [[Intuit]] applications such as [[Quicken]] and [[QuickBooks]], [[Adobe Photoshop]] versions through CS2, and many popular games such as ''[[World of Warcraft]]'' and ''[[Team Fortress 2]]''. In other cases, where there is no Linux port of some software in areas such as [[desktop publishing]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.freeos.com/articles/2540/ |title=Microsoft Office for Linux? |accessdate=3 February 2008 |last=Advani |first=Prakash |date=27 October 2000 |work=FreeOS |publisher=FreeOS Technologies (I) Pvt. Ltd. }}</ref> and [[professional audio]],<ref>{{cite web|url=http://arstechnica.com/guides/tweaks/linux-audio.ars |title=Editing audio in Linux |accessdate=3 February 2008 |last=Smith-Heisters |first=Ian |date=11 October 2005 |work=Ars Technica |publisher=Ars Technica, LLC }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.keyboardmag.com/article/linux-its-not/apr-07/27458 |title=Linux: It's Not Just For Computer Geeks Anymore |accessdate=3 February 2008 |last=Lumma |first=Carl |date = April 2007|work=Keyboard Magazine |publisher=New Bay Media, LLC. }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.soundonsound.com/sos/feb04/articles/mirrorimage.htm |title=Using Linux For Recording & Mastering |accessdate=3 February 2008 |last=James |first=Daniel |date = February 2004|work=Sound On Sound |publisher=SOS Publications Group }}</ref> there is equivalent software available on Linux.

The collaborative nature of free software development allows distributed teams to perform [[language localisation|language localization]] of some Linux distributions for use in locales where localizing proprietary systems would not be cost-effective. For example the [[Sinhalese language]] version of the [[Knoppix]] distribution was available significantly before [[Microsoft Windows XP]] was translated to Sinhalese.{{Citation needed|date=April 2009}} In this case the [[Lanka Linux User Group]] played a major part in developing the localized system by combining the knowledge of university professors, [[linguist]]s, and local developers.