What is Linux ?

Linux basically refers to the family of UNIX like computer operating system that uses the Linux kernel. Thanks to free and open source collaboration which brings Linux to this fast growing technology world. The beauty is any one can modify and redistribute, both commercially and non-commercially, by anyone under license such as the GNU General Public License.

The best part of Linux is that it can be installed on a variety of hardware like Tablet computers, Mobile phone and video game console to mainframes and supercomputers. Linux is known for its use in Servers; as of 2009 it has server market share upto 20-40%. While in Desktop it has market share upt0 1-2% while rest is covered by Microsoft and MAC-OS. However, desktop use of Linux has become increasingly popular in recent years, partly owing to the popular Ubuntu, Fedora, Mint, and open-SUSE distributions and the emergence of netbooks and smart phones running an embedded Linux.

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, the OpenOffice.org office application suite and the GIMP image editor.

The name "Linux" comes from the Linux kernel, originally written in 1991 by Linus Torvalds. The main 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.