Linux
What is Linux?
Linux is an operating system that was initially created as a hobby by Linux
Torvalds, a student at the University of Helsinki in Finland. Interested in
Minix, a small Unix system, Torvalds expanded and enhanced that system
dramatically, releasing version 1.0 of Linux Kernel in 1994. Today, Linux is
enormously popular worldwide for networking, software development, as an
end-user platform and for being an excellent alternative to more expensive
operating systems. Developed under the GNU Public License, its source code is
freely available and requires no license.
Why do people use Linux?
- A Linux distribution has thousands of dollars worth of software for no cost.
- Linux is a complete operating system that is stable, reliable, and extremely
powerful.
- It comes with a complete development environment, including C, C++, Fortran
compilers, toolkits such as Qt, and scripting languages such as Perl, Awk,
and sed.
- Java Runtime Environments are available from several vendors.
- Excellent networking facilities, allowing you to share CPUs, modems, etc.
- An ideal environment to run servers such as a web server or an FTP server,
or print and file servers or mail servers.
- A wide variety of commercial software is available if your needs aren't
satisfied by the free software.
- Its operating system is easily upgradable.
- It runs on far more hardware platforms than Microsoft's operating systems,
from the most basic 386 to an IBM S390.
- It is truly multi-tasking.
- Its excellent window system, called "X," is the equivalent of Windows but much
more flexible.
Website: www.linux.org
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