Linux Grows Up?Linux Grows Up?

A Look at Linux’s past, Review of Its Present, and some

Speculations on its Future.

Bill Laturablatura@xnet.com

What is Linux?What is Linux?

A free “UNIX-like” operating systemA kernelA software “distribution”Working towards POSIX complianceA phenomenonA hobby gone wild...

Who is Linus Torvalds?Who is Linus Torvalds?

A former Finnish college studentAuthor of Linux kernelArbitrator of kernel changesEmployee of Transmeta

How long has Linux How long has Linux been around?been around?

First “public release in 1991Version 1 released in 1994Version 2 released in 1996Kernel 2.2 released January 25, 1999Development kernels released from

daily to monthly

What is a Linux What is a Linux “Distribution”?“Distribution”?

A collection of softwareAutomated installation routinesDistributor specific “tweaks”Package managersThird-party softwareManuals and support

What are some What are some distributions?distributions?

Red HatSuSEDebianSlackwareCalderaTurboLinux, LinuxPro, Mandrake et al...

What platforms does What platforms does Linux run on?Linux run on?

X86 (Intel, AMD, Cyrix)

AlphaSPARCPowerPC

MIPSm86K (Mac, Atari,

Amiga)ARMSGI/Indy

What hardware does What hardware does Linux support?Linux support?

All SCSI devices, IDE hard drivesVESA and PCI busesCD-ROM’s and ROM burnersSound cardsAll but the very latest video cardsZip, tape, scanner and misc. devices

How many people use How many people use Linux?Linux?

1991 11994 100,0001996 1,500,0001998 7,500,000Today 8-10,000,000It’s all just guesswork anyway...

Where can I get Linux?Where can I get Linux?

FTP sitesDistribution publishersSoftware mail order housesBookstores and swap meetsFriends, neighbors, countrymen...

How much does Linux How much does Linux cost?cost?

$0 FTP and friends$1-2 Cheap CD’s$20-200 DistributionsNot counting man-hours...

Can I get LinuxCan I get Linuxpre-installed?pre-installed?

YESDell, Compaq, GatewayVAResearch, Aspen Systems, HiTech

USAInstallation fairs

What is “open-source” What is “open-source” software?software?

Source code freely availablefree redistribution of codemodification and derived works allowedregistered as certification markGNU GPL, BSD, X Consortiumnewest trade rag buzz-word

What is GNU?What is GNU?

GNU’s Not Unixfree Unix-like operating system projectGNU Hurd kernelGNU General Public License (Copyleft)Richard Stallmanused extensively by Linux

What is Xfree86?What is Xfree86?

Freely redistributable X Window SystemFor UNIX, UNIX-like and OS/2 OS’snot specific to X86 platformbase technology for developing GUI’sdraw GUI elements on screenhardware independent, remote capable

What is KDE?What is KDE?

Integrated graphical desk environmentWindow manager, file manager, control

center, tools, apps, utilitiesCommon look, customizableDrag and drop, file associationsuses Qt toolkit from Troll Tech

What is GNOME?What is GNOME?

GNU Network Object Model Environmtbuilt entirely with freely available s/wconsistent look and feel, tools and appsEnlightenment window managerGTK+ GUI toolkitsecond to KDE in terms of support

What other window What other window managers are there?managers are there?

FvwmAfterstep,

WindowMaker, Blackbox for the NextStep look

CDE

EnlightenmentQvwm, fvwm95 for

the Win95 lookthe old standby’s:

twm, ctwm. olwm, mwm, etc...

Can Linux run DOS Can Linux run DOS apps?apps?

DOSEmu DOS emulatorXDOSEmu for running under Xcan’t run all DOS appsuses FreeDOS kernel100% Microsoft-free code

Can Linux run MS Can Linux run MS Windows apps?Windows apps?

WINE sorta runs Win 3.X and Win32developer only releasedoes not require MS Windows100% Microsoft-free codeWABIbest bet…dual boot

What other emulators What other emulators are available?are available?

Atari 800, 800XL, 5200

Executor Macintosh

iNES, SNes9X Nintendo

UAE Amiga

Frodo Commodore 64

ZXZ, XZ80 Sinclair ZX Spectrum

Stella96,Virtual2600 Atari 2600

Who has announced Who has announced Linux ports?Linux ports?

IBM and LotusOracleCorelSybase, InformixMicrosoft (?)Others

What office suites are What office suites are available for Linux?available for Linux?

ApplixStar OfficeWord PerfectOther word processorsOther spreadsheetsDevelopment projects

What databases are What databases are available for Linux?available for Linux?

IBM DB2Oracle8SybasePostgreSQLmini-SQLADABAS DRaima

EmpressEssentiaFlagShipInformixInterBaseIngresYard

What graphics and What graphics and sound apps are there?sound apps are there?

GIMPBlenderXVPOV RayImageMagicMoonlight Creator

Mp3 playersReal Audiomidi and wave

playersmany CD playersetc, etc, etc...

What science and eng What science and eng apps are available?apps are available?

MapleVMathmaticaMicroStationVarkon-3DVariCADKhorosGAMESS

AstronomyChemistryFinite Element Anal.MappingScientific PlottingSignal ProcessingStatistics

What utilities are What utilities are available for Linux?available for Linux?

System admin toolsNetworking toolsShells and scripting languagesFile managersSecurity toolsBut what about viruses and defraggers?

How do I get help?How do I get help?

Buy itUsenetMailing listsHOW-TO’s and FAQsOn-line manuals and docsThird party books

What is Linux currently What is Linux currently being used for?being used for?

Web serversFile serversDatabase serversProgram developmentVertical appsSelf-education

What about SAMBA and What about SAMBA and Netware?Netware?

SAMBA integrates Windows boxes to UNIX environment

NT and LAN Manager file, print services

NETBIOS nameserver

Caldera Netware clientNetware on Linux4.10b file, directory

and print servicesstill a bit flakeytargeting the enterprise

Will Linux replace Will Linux replace Microsoft Windows?Microsoft Windows?

Pros: Cost, low hardware requirements, stability, cross-platform

Cons: Installed base, perceived lack of support, Microsoft marketing, application support, tricky installation, lack of common interface

Not yet….

Who (or what) is Tux?Who (or what) is Tux?

A penguinA logoA mascotA stuffed toyA favorite of Linus Torvalds

Where can I find out Where can I find out more about Linux?more about Linux?

World Wide Web - Linux Today, Freshmeat, Slashdot, Linux Doc Project

USENET groupsMailing listsMagazines - Linux JournalBooks - everybody and their brother

What about Free BSD?What about Free BSD?

I don’t know, you tell me...