About Linux

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By Amanda Morin
eHow Contributing Writer

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Linus Torvald didn't set out to change the face of computing, nor did he think that his little emulator program would become the kernel upon which hundreds of operating systems are built and on which huge servers are run. In fact, he didn't even want to name the software Linux--he thought it was egotistical. Despite his concerns, Linux it was, part homage to the man who created it and part reference to UNIX, the system that spawned his interest in creating a more accessible OS.

Invented

In 1991, as a student at the University of Helsinki in Finland, Linus Torvald wrote a small terminal emulator program to access the university's UNIX servers and still use the features of his PC. At the time, work on the GNU Project, an undertaking trying to create a free Unix-compatible software system, had been underway for nearly 10 years, but Torvald didn't want to wait any longer. Using MINIX as his model, Torvald created an operating system kernel free of the proprietary MINIX code and free from the costs of an academic UNIX system.

Significance

In 1992, a mere year after Linux was released, it was declared "obsolete" by the creator of MINIX, Andrew Tanebaum. He cited its lack of portability and its ties to a specific hardware as the primary reasons that Linux would die out in the next few years. With the release of the GNU project, Tanebaum was proven wrong. Once he aligned his licensing of Linux with the GNU GPL license, Torvald was able to work with the GNU code.

Features

Collaborating with GNU developers, Torvald integrated the code into his program and created a fully-functional, portable operating system. The monolithic kernel handles file system access, process control and networking, and has integrated drivers. Best of all, it is free and the code open-source.

Type

Over the years, programmers have created hundreds of distributions based on the Linux kernel. The most popular home distributions, Debian, GNOME and KDE all work slightly differently, yet all provide a graphical user interface on top of the shell. This means that users can work on the machine without ever having to interact with the compiler or work on the command-line.

Evolution

In 1994, the first commercial Linux enterprise, Red Hat, was launched and was the first Linux distribution to use a package manager. In bundling a number of software options with the distribution, Red Hat gave users an easy way to install needed software.

Function

With the code for the Linux kernel freely available for programmers to modify and build upon, it opens a world of possibilities. End-users who prefer to have the freedom to work in a command-line environment now have a operating system with which to work and those who prefer a graphical interface can build upon the kernel to create one.

Benefits

Linux provides an affordable alternative to using Windows or a Mac OS. Its cost-effectiveness has made it a contender for use as server software. Many schools use the K12 Linux Terminal Server Project as a way to provide students with access to all the programs they need without having to pay exorbitant, per-machine licensing fees.