Proper noun

Singular Linux

Plural Linuxes or Linuces

Linux (plural Linuxes or Linuces)

1. (computing, uncountable) A free Unix-like operating system kernel created by Linus Torvalds and released under the GNU General Public License.
2. (countable) One of any number of systems that uses Linux as its kernel.

Linux (commonly pronounced /ˈlɪnʌks/, LI-nuks in English, also pronounced /ˈlɪnʊks/, LI-nooks) is a generic term referring to Unix-like computer operating systems based on the Linux kernel. Their development is one of the most prominent examples of free and open source software collaboration; typically all the underlying source code can be used, freely modified, and redistributed, both commercially and non-commercially, by anyone under licenses such as the GNU General Public License.

Linux can be installed on a wide variety of computer hardware, ranging from embedded devices such as mobile phones, smartphones and wristwatches to mainframes and supercomputers. Linux is predominantly known for its use in servers; in 2007 Linux's overall share of the server market was estimated at 12.7%, while a 2008 estimate suggested that 60% of all web servers ran Linux. Most desktop computers run either Mac OS X or Microsoft Windows, with Linux having only 1–2% of the desktop market. However, desktop use of Linux has become increasingly popular in recent years, partly owing to the popular Ubuntu distribution and the emergence of netbooks and smartbooks.

Typically Linux is packaged in a format known as a Linux distribution for desktop and server use. Linux distributions include the Linux kernel and all of the supporting software required to run a complete system, such as utilities and libraries, the X Window System, the GNOME and KDE desktop environments, and the Apache HTTP Server. Commonly-used applications with desktop Linux systems include the Mozilla Firefox web-browser and the OpenOffice.org office application suite.

The name "Linux" comes from the Linux kernel, originally written in 1991 by Linus Torvalds. The contribution of a supporting Userland in the form of system tools and libraries from the GNU Project (announced in 1983 by Richard Stallman) is the basis for the Free Software Foundation's preferred name GNU/Linux.

Linux is a free, open-source operating system derived from UNIX. It was first developed in 1991 by Linus Torvalds.

Sourced

• Some people have told me they don't think a fat penguin really embodies the grace of Linux, which just tells me they have never seen an angry penguin charging at them in excess of 100mph. They'd be a lot more careful about what they say if they had.
  • Torvalds, Linus (1996-06-09). Post to comp.os.linux.announce newsgroup. Retrieved on 2006-08-28.

• …the Linux philosophy is 'laugh in the face of danger'. Oops. Wrong one. 'Do it yourself'. That's it.
  • Torvalds, Linus (1996-10-16). Post to linux.dev.kernel newsgroup. Retrieved on 2006-08-28.

• Linux is only free if your time has no value.
  • Jamie Zawinski. mouthing off about linux. date=2000. Retrieved on 2008-12-21.

• Note that nobody reads every post in linux-kernel. In fact, nobody who expects to have time left over to actually do any real kernel work will read even half. Except Alan Cox, but he's actually not human, but about a thousand gnomes working in under-ground caves in Swansea. None of the individual gnomes read all the postings either, they just work together really well.
  • Torvalds, Linus (2000-05-02). Post to fa.linux.kernel newsgroup. Retrieved on 2006-08-28.

From Wikiquote under the GNU Free Documentation License.
Fri Feb 26 15:03:29 2010