Linux is a free, Unix-like Operating System (fundamental software) thatis developed by a loosely knit team of talented programmers working fromall over the world. Linux works on almost every kind of computer in existance,and provides a robust platform for a wide variety of applications.
Linux was started as a learning project by a computer science student,at the Univeristy of Helsinki, Finland, named Linus Torvalds (hence thename Linux). There were two reasons why Linus created Linux. First, hewanted to learn more about the microprocessor he was studying at the time-- and what better way to learn than by creating an operating system totalk to it? Morever, the second reason was that a failing version of Unix,Minix, didn't have the functionality nor features that Linus wanted. Topurchase it would cost way too much for a starving student, so he startedlinux! [TRANSLATION: Linus wanted to bring Unix to the desktop]
He began the Linux experiment nearly a decade ago and has since graduated,but Linus Torvalds is still in charge of the Linux core today, though manycompanies now exist to help promote and distribute the Linux operatingsystem. Millions of computer science students worldwide use Linux dailyfor their calculations and studies, and many of them, as well as many otherpeople, help Linus to maintain Linux, release new versions, and keep itall working well [TRANSLATION: Many people actually code different partsof the OS themselves and send it in for review, if it passes approval thenit is entered into the next kernel revision.]. Linux is a completely freereimplementation of the POSIX specification, with SYSV and BSD extensions(which means it looks like Unix, but does not come from the same sourcecode base) [TRANSLATION: Linux is a free operating system that mimics theUnix operating system and has similar features and functions], which isavailable in both source code and binary form [TRANSLATION: source codeneeds to be compiled and binary code can be untarred]. Its copyright isowned by Linus Torvalds and other contributors, and is freely redistributableunder the terms of the GNU General Public License (GPL). A copy of theGPL is included with the Linux source; you can also get a copy from ftp://prep.ai.mit.edu/pub/gnu/COPYING.Linux, per se, is only the kernel of the operating system, the part thatcontrols hardware, manages files, separates processes, and so forth. Thereare several combinations of Linux with sets of utilities and applicationsto form a complete operating system. Each of these combinations is calleda distribution of Linux [TRANSLATION: ie: Redhat, Debian, Mandrake, SUSE,Caldera, etc.]. The word Linux, though it in its strictest form refersspecifically to the kernel, is also widely and correctly to refer to anentire operating system built around the Linux kernel [TRANSLATION: thecode that makes the OS work.]. For a list and brief discription of variousdistributions, see http://sunsite.unc.edu/LDP/HOWTO/Distribution-HOWTO.htmlNone of these distributions is ''the official Linux''. Linux is not publicdomain, nor is it `shareware'. It is `free' software, commonly called freewareor Open Source Software[tm] (see http://www.opensource.org/),and you may give away or sell copies, but you must include the source codeor make it available in the same way as any binaries you give or sell.If you distribute any modifications, you are legally bound to distributethe source for those modifications [TRANSLATION: it is ok, for instance,to bring your Redhat CD to your friends house so she can install it onher machine as well]. See the GNU General Public License for details.
It is ported to run on various hardware configurations, like PowerPC,Apple Macintosh, Alpha, Intel i386, and more coming all the time. Withall the volunteers involved with linux over the past 8 years, and morejoining everyday, linux looks to have a bright future in the world of computingfor years and years to come.
