Linux

Linux (in English: Linux) is a family of free and open source operating systems, operating systems based on the Linux kernel are called Linux. Generally, there is a packaged Linux distribution or Linux distro for both desktop and server use. The defining component of a Linux distribution is the Linux kernel, which is an operating system kernel. Linus Torvalds first published it on September 17, 1991. Most Linux distributions use the term Linux with their operating system names, and the Free Software Foundation uses the term GNU/Linux to refer to this operating system family. Linux was originally developed for PCs based on the Intel X-86 architecture. But, currently it is ported/used on more platforms than any other operating system. Due to the dominance of Linux kernel based operating system Android in the smartphone world, Linux has the largest installed base than any other operating system. Linux is the only operating system used on Linux servers and other large hardware systems, such as mainframe computers, and the top 500 supercomputers worldwide. Linux has been phasing out all other competitors (operating systems) since November 2017. Currently about 5/6% of desktop computers use Linux. Chromebooks running the Linux kernel-based Chrome operating system dominate the United States (US) K-13 education market and represent 20% of notebook sales under $300 in the United States. Linux is also used in embedded system devices, including TiVo and similar DVR devices / routers / automation controls / TVs / video game consoles and smartwatches. Currently most smartphones and tablet computers / Android and other devices run on Linux distros. Linux is considered a classic example of the open source or free software genre. Linux is quite different from other proprietary operating systems such as Windows and Mac OS in several ways. Linux's underlying source code can be freely used, improved upon, and even redistributed by anyone, as it is governed by an open source license. More precisely, Linux refers to the Linux kernel. However, Unix-like operating systems that are based on the Linux kernel and include GNU and other projects' code collection libraries and tools are generally described as Linux. A Linux distribution in a broader sense refers to the collection of the Linux operating system and the vast amount of application software that comes with it. Linux distributions can be easily installed and updated on computers.