The document provides an overview of the Linux operating system, including its origins, capabilities, and essential components. It discusses how Linux began as a hobby for Linus Torvalds in 1991 and has since grown to power servers, supercomputers, and other devices. The document also summarizes that Linux is an open-source, customizable operating system made up of a kernel, operating system, environments, applications, and distributions. It is freely available and developed collaboratively by its user community.

1. Operating Systems (Linux) Morgan Williams February 28, 2011

2. Operating Systems (Linux) A free, open-source operating system for PCs, servers, and other types of computers Owns a small percentage of the PC operating system market Popular with technically inclined individuals, some corporations

3. The Birth of Linux Linus Torvalds, 1991 Initially created as a hobby Built the core of the Linux operating system Known as the kernel In many ways it is still at the beginning of its potential Governments deploying Linux Commissioning their own versions of Linux

4. Essential Information Can be installed on a variety of computer hardware “From wristwatches to supercomputers” Linux’ capabilities Leading server operating system, runs the 10 fastest supercomputers in the world

6. Essential Information Open-source software Users can manipulate the source code, making Linux highly configurable Challenged by Windows and Mac Not 100% compatible with the software Challenging to collaborate

7. Essential Information Powerful, free UNIX-like operating system for desktop PCs Multitasking, multi-user computer operating system Command-line operating system or through a graphical desktop interface such as GNOME

8. Essential Information Used on computers ranging from small personal computers to large mainframe systems Available for free to users under a General Public License arrangement Vendors offer commercial (not free) versions More features and user support

9. Essential Information Many versions (distributions, distros) designed by the user community Open source with many more customized versions than Microsoft Windows or Mac OS Hundreds of versions of Linux Hundreds of thousands of unique Linux setups

10. Essential Information Developed collaboratively No one company is solely responsible for its development or ongoing support Companies in the Linux economy share take part in research and development Commercial and private developers contribute other software Resulted in software innovation

11. Essential Information Develop utilities, applications and enhancements to the operating system Linux Ubuntu Free open-source applications Includes all regular software plus several accessories and more than a dozen games Linux users think it is the best Operating System

13. Parts of the Linux Operating System The Kernel The Operating System The Environments The Applications The Distributions

14. The Kernel The Linux kernel is unique Modular in nature Allows developers to shed parts of the kernel they don’t need to use Smaller kernel is a faster kernel The ability to scale down (or up) to meet the needs of a specific platform is a big advantage over other operating systems

16. The Operating System Linux provides powerful tools with which to write their applications Developer environments, editors and compilers Like the kernel, the operating system is also modular Developers can pick and choose the operating tools to provide users and developers with a new flavor of Linux designed to meet specific tasks

17. The Environments Windowing system and the desktop environment The windows, menus, and dialog boxes A lot of choices for which windowing system and desktop environment can be used Linux allows its users to decide Cannot be done in Windows, difficult to do in OS X Tools and code libraries available that let application developers to more readily work with the environments

18. The Applications Linux application developers have a larger set of choices to develop their application Windows and OS X will not let users pick and choose the essential component applications Flexibility in builing Developer will need to decide which Linux components to use

19. The Distributions Highest layer of the Linux operating system Maintained by private individuals and commercial entities Offer mature application management systems Allow users to search, find, and install new applications

20. The Future of Linux Showing up on mobile Internet devices Embedded devices such as smartphones and PDAs as well as netbook devices Twitter, Linked In, YouTube, and Google As new web services arrive in the future, Linux will increasingly be the platform that drives these new technologies