Linux

Description: Linux is an operating system that was initially created as a hobby by a young student, Linus Torvalds, at the University of Helsinki in Finland. Linus had an interest in Minix, a small UNIX system, and decided to develop a system that exceeded the Minix standards. He began his work in 1991 when he released version 0.02 and worked steadily until 1994 when version 1.0 of the Linux Kernel was released.

Linux is developed under the GNU General Public License and its source code is freely available to everyone. This however, doesn't mean that Linux and it's assorted distributions are free - companies and developers may charge money for it as long as the source code remains available. Linux may be used for a wide variety of purposes including networking, software development, and as an end-user platform. Linux is often considered an excellent, low-cost alternative to other more expensive operating systems.

Due to the very nature of Linux's functionality and availability, it has become quite popular worldwide and a vast number of software programmers have taken Linux's source code and adapted it to meet their individual needs.

Links:

Linux International - is a non-profit association of groups, corporations and others that work towards the promotion of growth of the Linux operating system and the Linux community: www.li.org

Linux Online: www.linux.org

Linux HQ - tries to organize and catalog many of the Linux related kernel patches in one central location: www.linuxhq.com

Linux Hardware Database - : www.linhardware.com

Linux Documentation Project: www.linuxdoc.org

Linux Standard Base - (LSB) aims to develop and promote a set of standards that will increase compatibility among Linux distributions and enable software applications to run on any compliant Linux system: www.linuxbase.org

Caldera Systems, Inc. - Linux for eBusiness: www.caldera.com

Redhat.com - Serving the Linux and Open Source Communities: www.redhat.com

SuSE - (pronounced soo'-zuh) is the oldest major Linux solutions provider: www.suse.com

GNOME - The GNOME project has built a complete free and easy-to-use desktop environment for the user, as well as a powerful application framework for the software developer: www.gnome.org