Linux
Linux (pronounced Listeni/ˈlɪnəks/ LIN-əks or, less frequently, /ˈlaɪnəks/ LYN-əks) is a Unix-like and mostly POSIX-compliant computer operating system (OS) assembled under the model of free and open source software development and distribution.
(TO DO: expand, organize, cross-reference, illustrate.)
Contents
Description
The defining component of Linux is the Linux kernel, an operating system kernel first released on 5 October 1991 by Linus Torvalds.
The Free Software Foundation uses the name GNU/Linux to describe the operating system, which has led to some controversy.
Linux was originally developed as a free operating system for personal computers based on the Intel x86 architecture, but has since been ported to more computer hardware platforms than any other operating system.
Marketplace
Thanks to its dominance on smartphones, Android, which is built on top of the Linux kernel, has the largest installed base of all general-purpose operating systems.
Linux, in its original form, is also the leading operating system on servers and other big iron systems such as mainframe computers and supercomputers, but is used on only around 1.5% of desktop computers.
Embedded systems
Linux also runs on embedded systems, which are devices whose operating system is typically built into the firmware and is highly tailored to the system. This includes:
- Mobile phones
- Tablet computers
- Network routers
- Facility automation controls
- Televisions
- Video game consoles
- Smart watches
Free and open-source software collaboration
The development of Linux is one of the most prominent examples of free and open-source software collaboration.
See also
External links
- Linux @ Wikipedia
