what is linux?

What is linux?

Linux (i/ˈlɪnəks/ LIN-əks) is a kind of freedom and openness Source code for a UNIX-like operating system. The kernel of the operating system was first released by Linus Torvalds on October 5, 1991. After adding user space applications, it became the Linux operating system. Linux is also the best-known example of the development of free software and open source software.

As long as they follow the GNU General Public License (GPL), any individual or institution can freely use all the underlying source code of Linux, and can also freely modify and redistribute it. Most Linux systems also include programs like X Window that provide a GUI. With the exception of a few experts, most people just use a Linux distribution without choosing every component or setting it up themselves.

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Strictly speaking, Linux only refers to the kernel of the operating system, because the operating system contains many user graphical interfaces and other practical tool. Nowadays, Linux is often used to refer to a complete operating system based on Linux, and the kernel is called the Linux kernel.

Since these system tools and libraries supporting user space are mainly provided by the GNU project launched by Richard Stallman in 1983, the Free Software Foundation proposed to name its combined system GNU/Linux, but Linux Not part of the GNU Project, the name was not unanimously agreed upon by the community.

Linux was originally developed as a free operating system for personal computers supporting the Intel x86 architecture. Currently Linux has been ported to more computer hardware platforms than any other operating system. Linux can run on servers and other large platforms, such as mainframe computers and supercomputers.

More than 90% of the world's 500 fastest supercomputers run Linux distributions or variants, including the top 10 fastest supercomputers, which all run operating systems based on the Linux kernel. Linux is also widely used in embedded systems, such as mobile phones, tablets, routers, TVs, and electronic game consoles. The Android operating system widely used on mobile devices is built on the Linux kernel.

Normally, Linux is packaged into Linux distributions for personal computers and servers. Some popular mainstream Linux distributions include Debian (and its derivatives Ubuntu, Linux Mint), Fedora (and Related versions (Red Hat Enterprise Linux, CentOS) and openSUSE, etc. A Linux distribution contains the Linux kernel and the utilities and libraries that support the kernel, and usually comes with a large number of applications to meet various needs.

Linux distributions used by personal computers usually include X Window and a corresponding desktop environment, such as GNOME or KDE. Applications commonly used in desktop Linux operating systems include Firefox web browser, LibreOffice office software, GIMP image processing tool, etc. Since Linux is free software, anyone can create a Linux distribution that suits their needs.

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