Linux
"GNU/Linux"\nMain article: GNU/Linux naming controversy Because the GNU tools, an essential part of nearly all Linux distributions, stem from a long-standing free operating system project that predates the Linux kernel, Richard Stallman and the Free Software Foundation ask that the combined system (regardless of distribution) be referred to as GNU/Linux. Although some distributions do use this name, most notably Debian GNU/Linux, most simply designate the system Linux. The distinction between Torvalds' kernel and entire Linux-based systems that contain the kernel is a perennial source of confusion, and the naming remains controversial.Litigation\nMain article: SCO v. IBM In March 2003, the SCO Group (SCO) filed a lawsuit against IBM claiming that IBM had contributed portions of SCO's intellectual property into the Linux kernel in violation of IBM's license to use UNIX, now claimed by SCO. Additionally, SCO sent letters to a number of companies warning that their use of Linux without a license from SCO may be actionable, and have claimed in the press that they would be suing individual Linux users. This controversy has more recently involved lawsuits by SCO against Novell, DaimlerChrysler, and AutoZone, and by Red Hat and others against SCO.Linux distributions\nMain article: Linux distribution Linux is almost always used as part of a Linux distribution (distro). These are compiled by individuals, loose-knit teams, and various professional organizations. They include any number of additional system software and application programs, as well as certain processes to install these systems on a computer. Distributions are created for many different purposes, including localization, architecture support, real-time applications, and embedded systems, and there are some which deliberately include only free software. A typical general-purpose distribution includes the Linux kernel, the GNU libraries and tools, command-line shellss, and a tremendous amount of application software, from office suites and the graphical X Window System to compilers, text editors, and scientific tools.Scale of development efforts\nMore Than a Gigabuck: Estimating GNU/Linux's Size, a study of Red Hat Linux 7.1, found that this particular distribution contained 30 million source lines of code (SLOC). Using the Constructive Cost Model (COCOMO), the study estimated that this distribution required about eight thousand person-years of development time. Had all this software been developed by conventional proprietary means, it would have cost 1.08 billion dollars (year 2000 dollars) to develop in the United States. The majority of the code (71%) was written in the C programming language, but many other languages were used, including C++, Lisp, assembly language, Perl, Fortran, Python, and various shell scripting languages. Slightly over half of all lines of code were licensed under the GPL. The Linux kernel contained 2.4 million lines of code, or 8% of the total. \nIn a later study, Counting potatoes: the size of Debian 2.2, the same analysis was performed for Debian GNU/Linux version 2.2. This distribution contained over fifty-five million source lines of code, and would have cost 1.9 billion dollars (year 2000 dollars) to develop by conventional proprietary means.Applications of Linux-based operating systems\nIn the past, a Linux user needed significant knowledge of computers in order to install and configure his system. For this reason and, being attracted by access to the internals of the system, Linux users have traditionally tended to be more technologically oriented than users of Microsoft Windows and Mac OS, often revelling in the tag of "hacker" or "geek". This stereotype has been dispelled in recent years by the increasing user-friendliness and broader adoption of many Linux distributions. Linux has made considerable progress in server and special-purpose markets, such as image rendering and Web services, and is beginning to make inroads into the high volume desktop market. Linux is the cornerstone of the so-called LAMP server-software combination (Linux, Apache, MySQL, Perl/PHP/Python) that has achieved widespread popularity among Web developers. Linux is also often used in embedded system. Its low cost makes it ideal for such devices as the Simputer, a computer aimed especially at low-income populations in developing nations. With desktop environments such as KDE and GNOME, Linux offers a user interface like that of the Apple Macintosh or Microsoft Windows in addition to other graphical environments and its traditional Unix-like command line interface. Graphical Linux software exists for many niches, although in many areas there is still greater breadth and quantity of proprietary software.Usability, market share and moving from Windows\nOnce viewed as an operating system only computer geeks could use, Linux is today a much more user-friendly system, with many graphical interfaces and applications that bear a close resemblance to those of popular consumer operating systems. Its market share for desktop usage remains small but growing. According to market research company IDC, 25% of servers and 2.8% of desktop computers were running Linux in 2002. However, argued advantages of Linux, such as lower cost, fewer security vulnerabilities, and lack of vendor lock-in have spurred a growing number of high-profile cases of mass adoption of Linux by corporations and governments for specific purposes. Linux and other free software projects are frequently criticised for not going far enough in terms of ensuring usability, and the question of Linux's usability compared to Windows or the Macintosh remains hotly debated. For those only familiar with Windows or the Macintosh, using Linux may be difficult because many tasks do not work identically, and substantial differences remain in more sophisticated administrative and configuration tasks. It is also easier to find local technical support for Windows or MacOS than for Linux in many places. Additionally, users might have to switch application software, and equivalents of some programs may not be available or there may be fewer options, as there are for computer games. However, more office and home applications now come with an installation. Because of reluctance to change and the fact that most computers come with Windows pre-installed, there is a slow adoption of new desktop operating systems. There have been conflicting studies of Linux's usability and cost. Relevantive, a Berlin-based company specializing in consulting companies on the usability of software and Web services, concluded in 2003 that the usability of Linux for a set of specific desktop-related tasks was "nearly equal to Windows XP." On the other hand, Microsoft-sponsored studies by IDC have argued that Linux has a higher total cost of ownership (TCO) than Windows. Linux distributions have been criticized for unpredictable development schedules, thus making enterprise users less comfortable with Linux than they might be with other systems (Marcinkowski, 2003). On the other hand, Microsoft release dates also have a reputation for slipping. The large number of choices of Linux distributions can also confuse users and software vendors. The paper Why Open Source Software / Free Software (OSS/FS)? Look at the Numbers! identifies many quantitative studies of open source software, including market share, reliability, with many studies specifically examining Linux. Several programs are purposed to make Windows applications run on Linux, with varying degrees of success. VMware and Win4Lin run Windows applications with near-perfect functionality but a severe speed penalty, similar to an emulator. WINE and WINE-based programs like Crossover Office and Transgaming Cedega use an application compatibility layer that is less complete but faster.Installation\nDifficulty of installation was initially a high barrier to adoption, but the installation process has been greatly eased in recent years, some distributions being easier to install than comparable versions of Windows. With the adoption of Linux by several large personal computer manufacturers, computers with Linux distributions pre-installed have become available. Some distributions allow Linux to be booted directly from a live CD without modifying the hard drive. CD ISO images for these and other distributions can usually be downloaded from the Internet, burneded to a CD and booted from the CD. Linux can also be booted over a network or, for a minimal system, from a few floppy disks or network card.Configuration\nConfiguration of most settings is stored in a single directory called/etc, while user-specific settings are stored in hidden files in the user's home directory. A few programs use a configuration database instead of files.
There are a number of ways to change these settings. The easiest way to do this is by using tools provided by distributions such as SuSE's YaST or Mandrake's Control Center. Others, like Linuxconf and Gnome System Tools, are not distribution-specific. There are also many command line utilities for configuring programs. Since nearly all settings are stored in ordinary text files they can be configured by any text editor.
Support\nTechnical support is provided by commercial suppliers and by other Linux users, usually in online forums, newsgroups and mailing lists. Linux User Groups (LUGs) all over the world assist many users, mostly locally, and often also hold "installfests" where users can install Linux with a nearby helping hand. The business model of commercial suppliers is generally dependent on charging for support, especially for business users. Third-party commercial support is also readily available.References\n* Glyn Moody: Rebel Code: Linux and the Open Source Revolution, Perseus Publishing, ISBN 0-713-99520-3 \n* Gedda. R. (2004). Linux breaks desktop barrier in 2004: Torvalds. Retrieved January 16, 2004 from [1]\n* Mackenzie, K. (2004). Linux Torvalds Q&A. Retrieved January 19, 2004 from [1]\n* Marcinkowski, A. (2003). Linux needs reconsideration. Retrieved January 16, 2004 from [1]\n* More Than a Gigabuck: Estimating GNU/Linux's Size by David A. Wheeler\n* Counting potatoes: the size of Debian 2.2 by Jesús M. González-Barahona et al.\n* Why Open Source Software / Free Software (OSS/FS)? Look at the Numbers! by David A. WheelerSee also\n* UNIX\n* List of Unix programs\n* List of mobile phones running Linux\n* Linux Documentation Project\n* Linux open hardware drivers\n* WINE — a Microsoft Windows compatibility layer for Unix/Linux\n* Origins of computer terms\n* Plex86 — x86 emulator for running Linux\n* List of Linux games.Popular Linux distributions\nThere exist a very large number of Linux distributions. These are only some of the most popular:\n* Red Hat Enterprise Linux\n* Fedora Core (the current name for what was Red Hat Linux)\n* Debian\n* Slackware\n* Gentoo\n* Linspire (formerly Lindows but had to change name due to issues with Microsoft)\n* Mandrake Linux\n* TurboLinux\n* SUSE\n* Conectiva\n* more: Linux distributions and LiveCDsLinux on Windows\nInstalling or running Linux on PCs with existing Microsoft Windows installations, without a separate partition.\n* Lnx4Win\n* WinLinux\n* VMware\n* Knoppix and Morphix (distributions that run from a live CD)\n* colinux (runs Linux natively on Windows)External links\n* History of Linux\n* Linux Online!\n* Linux.com\n* Linux questions forum\n* The Linux Documentation Project\n* Background information on Linux from Economist.com \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nsimple:Linux\n\n\n\n\n\n\nCategory:Linux |
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the penguin, the Linux mascot]]
