Linux Operating System
After its first launch, thousands of programmers and users got attracted towards Linux. Today we can say that Linux is the first choice of millions of people all over the globe. It is different from other operating systems as it comes with a host of positive developments. This is because of what Linux offers to users and programmers, such as scalability. security, consistency, user friendliness, freedom and non pirated enterprise software. Many of the advantages of Linux are an aftermath of its origins, deeply rooted in UNIX
Linux is Free: Linux is a freely distributable operating system. The first thought that comes to mind is what does free mean. When we say Limax is free that does not mean it is always free of cost. Here, free implies the freedom to work. You can download the Linux for free from Internet, without registration and without going into per user per year kind of licensing. You are free to use, free to customize, free to modify, free to distribute and also free to brand your modified variant. Modification is possible because its source code is freely available. This makes the Linux free. It has already been explained that no licensing is required for Linux. Again, this does not mean that there is no license. Like any other software Linux also has a license. Linux comes with GNU Public License (GPL). The license states that anybody who may want to use and apply Linux can do so. Anybody has the right to change Linux and eventually redistribute a changed version, on the condition that he makes available the code after redistribution. In other words we can say that you are always free to grab a kernel image, for any of your functionality as long as your client can still have a copy of that code.
Linux is Hardware Independent: Linux is compatible with nearly all available hardware. As mentioned in the previous section, its source code is freely downloadable and that also comes with the GPL license, you are free to follow the documentation available and customize so as to work with your unsupported hardware. This makes the Linux hardware independent.
Linux is Secure: Linux has proven, beyond doubt, the sound security level it offers. This security aspect is the key feature of Linux and its security model is entirely based on UNIX, which we all know is very robust and of proven quality. In Linux, security is not only restricted to the security from Internet threats but it is also very much secure from other system related breaches or malpractices. Linux offers security at all levels, such as User level, Application level. System level, Device level, Inner threats, External threats.
Linux is Scalable: When Linux was in the gestation process, its creators wanted to make an operating system that was extensively suitable for any application, any hardware, and any process. They wanted it to work with computers with high power and capacities like of super computers, mainframes, and with computers for personal use like PCs, laptops and even with computers of limited resources like Palmtop, PDAs, etc., so that Linux fits everywhere.
History of Linux
After its first launch, a number of people worked for the development of UNIX and as a result UNIX variants are available for all types of computers. From personal computers to mainframe and also super computers, UNIX is available in one or more variants, such as HP-UX, SCO UNIX. Minix, etc. Linux was developed with the help of many UNIX programmers and wizards across the Internet, allowing anyone with enough know how and ability to develop and change the system. An important point to note is that the Linux kernel uses no code from AT&T or any other proprietary source, and Linux is developed by the GNU project at the Free Software Foundation in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Therefore, programmers all over the world have been able to contribute to the growing pool of Linux software. It was on 5 October 1991 that Linus Torvalsts announced the first 'official' version of Linux, Version 0.02 At this point, Linus was able to run bash (the GNU Bourne Again Shell) and gcc (the GNU C compiler), but not very much else was working primarily because it was intended as a hacker's system. At that time the primary focus was kernel development, none of the issues of user support, documentation, distribution, and so on had been addressed. Even today, the Linux community still seems to treat these ergonomic issues as secondary to the 'real programming". i.e., kernel development.