Home >Operation and Maintenance >Linux Operation and Maintenance >What does Linux mean?
Linux
is a set of Unix-like operating systems that are free to use and freely disseminated. It is a multi-user, multi-tasking, multi-threaded and multi-threaded operating system based on POSIX and UNIX. Multi-CPU operating system. Suitable for computers, servers, mainframes, mobile devices and embedded devices, it has become one of the most widely supported operating systems.
Linux can run major UNIX tool software, applications and network protocols. It supports 32-bit and 64-bit hardware. Linux inherits the network-centric design philosophy of Unix and is a multi-user network operating system with stable performance.
The Linux operating system was born on October 5, 1991 (this is the first time the date was officially announced to the outside world). There are many different Linux versions of Linux, but they all use the Linux kernel. Linux can be installed on a variety of computer hardware devices, such as cell phones, tablets, routers, video game consoles, desktop computers, mainframes, and supercomputers.
Strictly speaking, the word Linux itself only refers to the Linux kernel, but in fact people are accustomed to using Linux to describe the entire operating system based on the Linux kernel and using various tools and databases of the GNU project.
The basic idea of Linux
The basic idea of Linux has two points:
First, everything is a file;
Second, every software has a definite purpose.
The first one is that everything in the system is boiled down to one file, including commands, hardware and software devices, operating systems, processes, etc. For the operating system kernel, they are all considered to be owned. files of their respective characteristics or types. As for Linux being based on Unix, it is largely because the basic ideas of the two are very similar.
Advantages of Linux
● Completely free
Linux is a free operating system that users can obtain for free through the Internet or other channels, and Its source code can be modified arbitrarily. This is something other operating systems cannot do. It is precisely because of this that countless programmers from all over the world have participated in the modification and writing of Linux. Programmers can change it according to their own interests and inspirations. This allows Linux to absorb the essence of countless programmers and continue to grow.
● Multi-user, multi-tasking
Linux supports multiple users. Each user has its own special rights for its own file device, ensuring that users do not affect each other. Multitasking is one of the most important features of today's computers. Linux can enable multiple programs to run simultaneously and independently.
●Good interface
Linux has both character interface and graphical interface. In the character interface, users can input corresponding instructions through the keyboard to perform operations. It also provides an X-Window system similar to the Windows graphical interface, which users can operate using the mouse. The X-Window environment is similar to Windows. It can be said to be a Linux version of Windows.
● Support multiple platforms
Linux can run on a variety of hardware platforms, such as platforms with x86, 680x0, SPARC, Alpha and other processors. In addition, Linux is an embedded operating system that can run on handheld computers, set-top boxes or game consoles. The Linux 2.4 kernel released in January 2001 has fully supported the Intel 64-bit chip architecture. At the same time, Linux also supports multi-processor technology. Multiple processors work at the same time, greatly improving system performance.
Related learning recommendations: linux video tutorial
The above is the detailed content of What does Linux mean?. For more information, please follow other related articles on the PHP Chinese website!