Operating System: Linux

By: Victoria Lin and Rebecca Reimbolt

• Like Windows, Mac OS, UNIX• Runs primarily on PC• Operating System

• Task scheduler• Memory manager• Disk manager

What Does an Operating System Do?

• Network manager• Input/output manager• Security manager

What Does Operating System Do? cont.

• 1991• Linus Torvalds• Made available for free

How was it created?

• Programmers can add• Allows enhancement• Software developers• Growing audience

What is the attraction?

• Experimenting with operating systems• Control over operating systems• Dislike Microsoft

Who uses Linux?

• Many available for Linux• Wine project

Applications

• Free• Develop/enhance• Customizable versions• General public license (GPL)

Windows vs. Linux

Pros and Cons

• Pros:• Experimentation• Constantly improving• Hands-on

• Cons:• Complex• Difficult for average user

Unix-like

• Freeware• Cheap hardware• Adoptable• Less control over businesses• Free/open source

Market Growth

• Fast growing• Adopted by many users around world

Linux Adoption

• Embedded systems/Mobile devices• Supercomputers• Netbooks

Graphical User Interface

• Allows users to interact with images• Common for embedded systems

Programming on Linux

• Supports various programming languages• ADA• C• C++• Java• Fortran

Types and Trends

• Specific user group• General• Highly specialized• Commercial/Non commercial• Business

Linux Distribution

• Distributed through packages• Examples• Gentoo• Arch Linux• Debian

Desktop Linux

• Gnome and KDE Plasma Desktop

Controversies

• SCO-Linux• License agreements

• GNU-Linux

Communities

• Linuxquestions.org• Linux user groups