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'''Linux''' (commonly {{IPAc-en|icon|ˈ|l|ɪ|n|ə|k|s}} {{respell|LIN|əks}} in ],<ref>{{cite web|url=http://safalra.com/science/linguistics/linux-pronunciation/|title=Pronunciation of ‘Linux’|last=Safalra|date=2007-04-14|work=Safalra’s Website|accessdate=2009-09-15}}</ref><ref name="Foldoc09Jun06">{{cite web|url = http://foldoc.org/linux|title = Linux|accessdate = 2009-09-15|last = Free On-Line Dictionary of Computing|authorlink = |year = 2006|month = June}}</ref> also {{pron-en|ˈlɪnʊks}} {{respell|LIN|uuks}}<ref>Torvalds used {{IPAc-en|icon|ˈ|l|ɪ|n|ʊ|k|s}} in English.<br />{{cite newsgroup | newsgroups = comp.os.linux | title = Re: How to pronounce "Linux"? | id = 1992Apr23.123216.22024@klaava.Helsinki.FI | date = 23 April 1992 | accessdate = 2007-01-09 }}<br /> Torvalds recorded himself pronouncing the name during the 1990s. ({{IPA|/ˈlɪnʊks/}}: {{cite web | url = http://www.paul.sladen.org/pronunciation/ | title = How to pronounce Linux? | accessdate = 2006-12-17 }}) and in Swedish ({{IPA|/ˈlɪːnɤks/}}: {{cite web | url = http://www.kernel.org/pub/linux/kernel/SillySounds/ | title = Linus pronouncing Linux in English and Swedish | accessdate = 2007-01-20 }})</ref> in Europe) refers to the family of ] computer ]s using the ]. Linux can be installed on a wide variety of computer ], ranging from ]s, ]s, ]s, and ]s, to ] and ]s.<ref name="LinuxDevices">{{cite web|url = http://www.trl.ibm.com/projects/ngm/wp10_e.htm|title = Linux Watch|accessdate = 2009-09-29|last = ]|authorlink = |year = 2001|month = October}}</ref><ref name="IBMLinuxWatch">{{cite web|url = http://www.linuxfordevices.com/c/a/News/Trolltech-rolls-complete-Linux-smartphone-stack/|title = Trolltech rolls "complete" Linux smartphone stack|accessdate = 2009-09-29|last = Linux Devices|authorlink = |year = 2010|month = January}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | title = IBM's newest mainframe is all Linux | url = http://www.computerworld.com/s/article/9142007/IBM_s_newest_mainframe_is_all_Linux_ | last = Computerworld | first = Patrick Thibodeau | accessdate = 2009-02-22 }}</ref><ref>{{cite news | title = Linux rules supercomputers | url = http://www.forbes.com/home/enterprisetech/2005/03/15/cz_dl_0315linux.html | last = Lyons | first = Daniel | accessdate = 2007-02-22 | work=Forbes}}</ref> Linux is a leading ] operating system, and runs the 10 fastest ] in the world.<ref>{{cite web|author=Henry Burkhardt, KSR |url=http://www.top500.org/lists/2010/06 |title=June 2010 &#124; TOP500 Supercomputing Sites |publisher=Top500.org |date= |accessdate=2010-10-30}}</ref> '''Linux''' (commonly {{IPAc-en|icon|ˈ|l|ɪ|n|ə|k|s}} {{respell|LIN|əks}} in ],<ref>{{cite web|url=http://safalra.com/science/linguistics/linux-pronunciation/|title=Pronunciation of ‘Linux’|last=Safalra|date=2007-04-14|work=Safalra’s Website|accessdate=2009-09-15}}</ref><ref name="Foldoc09Jun06">{{cite web|url = http://foldoc.org/linux|title = Linux|accessdate = 2009-09-15|last = Free On-Line Dictionary of Computing|authorlink = |year = 2006|month = June}}</ref> also {{pron-en|ˈlɪnʊks}} {{respell|LIN|uuks}}<ref>Torvalds used {{IPAc-en|icon|ˈ|l|ɪ|n|ʊ|k|s}} in English.<br />{{cite newsgroup | newsgroups = comp.os.linux | title = Re: How to pronounce "Linux"? | id = 1992Apr23.123216.22024@klaava.Helsinki.FI | date = 23 April 1992 | accessdate = 2007-01-09 }}<br /> Torvalds recorded himself pronouncing the name during the 1990s. ({{IPA|/ˈlɪnʊks/}}: {{cite web | url = http://www.paul.sladen.org/pronunciation/ | title = How to pronounce Linux? | accessdate = 2006-12-17 }}) and in Swedish ({{IPA|/ˈlɪːnɤks/}}: {{cite web | url = http://www.kernel.org/pub/linux/kernel/SillySounds/ | title = Linus pronouncing Linux in English and Swedish | accessdate = 2007-01-20 }})</ref> in Europe) refers to the family of ] computer ]s using the ]. Linux can be installed on a wide variety of computer ], ranging from ]s, ]s, ]s, and ]s, to ] and ]s.<ref name="LinuxDevices">{{cite web|url = http://www.trl.ibm.com/projects/ngm/wp10_e.htm|title = Linux Watch|accessdate = 2009-09-29|last = ]|authorlink = |year = 2001|month = October}}</ref><ref name="IBMLinuxWatch">{{cite web|url = http://www.linuxfordevices.com/c/a/News/Trolltech-rolls-complete-Linux-smartphone-stack/|title = Trolltech rolls "complete" Linux smartphone stack|accessdate = 2009-09-29|last = Linux Devices|authorlink = |year = 2010|month = January}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | title = IBM's newest mainframe is all Linux | url = http://www.computerworld.com/s/article/9142007/IBM_s_newest_mainframe_is_all_Linux_ | last = Computerworld | first = Patrick Thibodeau | accessdate = 2009-02-22 }}</ref><ref>{{cite news | title = Linux rules supercomputers | url = http://www.forbes.com/home/enterprisetech/2005/03/15/cz_dl_0315linux.html | last = Lyons | first = Daniel | accessdate = 2007-02-22 | work=Forbes}}</ref> Linux is a leading ] operating system, and runs the 10 fastest ] in the world.<ref>{{cite web|author=Henry Burkhardt, KSR |url=http://www.top500.org/lists/2010/06 |title=June 2010 &#124; TOP500 Supercomputing Sites |publisher=Top500.org |date= |accessdate=2010-10-30}}</ref>


The development of Linux is one of the most prominent examples of ] collaboration; typically all the underlying ] can be used, freely modified, and redistributed, both commercially and non-commercially, by anyone under licenses such as the ]. Typically Linux is packaged in a format known as a '']'' for desktop and server use. Some popular mainstream Linux distributions include ] (and its derivatives such as ]), ] and ]. Linux distributions include the Linux kernel and supporting ] and ] to fulfill the distribution's intended use.

A distribution oriented toward desktop use may include the ], the ] and ] ]s. Other distributions may include a less resource intensive desktop such as ] or ] for use on older or less-powerful computers. A distribution intended to run as a server may omit any graphical environment from the standard install and instead include other software such as the ] and a ] like ]. Because Linux is freely redistributable, it is possible for anyone to create a distribution for any intended use. Commonly used applications with desktop Linux systems include the ] web browser, the ] or ] office application suites, and the ] image editor.

The name "Linux" comes from the Linux kernel, originally written in 1991 by ]. The main supporting ] system tools and libraries from the ] (announced in 1983 by ]) are the basis for the ]'s preferred name '']''.<ref name="lsag">{{cite book | url = http://www.tldp.org/LDP/sag/html/sag.html#GNU-OR-NOT | title = Linux System Administrator's Guide | chapter = 1.1 | edition = version 0.9 | year = 2004 | accessdate = 2007-01-18 | first = Alex | last = Weeks }}</ref><ref name="gnu_homepage">{{cite web|url=http://www.gnu.org/ |title=The GNU Operating System |publisher=Gnu.org |accessdate=2009-04-17}}</ref>

===Community===
{{See also|Free software community|Linux User Group}}

A distribution is largely driven by its developer and user communities. Some vendors develop and fund their distributions on a volunteer basis, ] being a well-known example. Others maintain a community version of their commercial distributions, as ] does with ] and ] does with ].

In many cities and regions, local associations known as ]s (LUGs) seek to promote their preferred distribution and by extension free software. They hold meetings and provide free demonstrations, training, technical support, and operating system installation to new users. Many ] communities also provide support to Linux users and developers. Most distributions and free software / open source projects have ] chatrooms or ]s. ]s are another means for support, with notable examples being ] and the various distribution specific support and community forums, such as ones for ], ], and ]. Linux distributions host ]s; commonly there will be a specific topic such as usage or development for a given list.

There are several technology websites with a Linux focus. Print ]s on Linux often include ]s including software or even complete Linux distributions.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.linuxformat.co.uk/dvd/ | title=Linux Format DVD contents | author=] | accessdate=2008-01-17 |archiveurl = http://web.archive.org/web/20070807222402/http://www.linuxformat.co.uk/dvd/ |archivedate = August 7, 2007}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.linux-magazine.com/resources/current_issue | title=Current Issue | author=linux-magazine.com | accessdate=2008-01-17 | authorlink=Linux Magazine }}</ref>

Although ] are generally available without charge, several large corporations sell, support, and contribute to the development of the components of the system and of ]. An analysis of the Linux kernel showed 75 percent of the code from December 2008 to January 2010 was developed by programmers working for corporations, leaving about 18 percent to the traditional, open source community.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://apcmag.com/linux-now-75-corporate.htm | title=75% of Linux code now written by paid developers
| author=|work=] | accessdate=2010-01-22 }}</ref> Some of the major corporations that contribute include ], ], ], ], ] (now part of Oracle), ], and ]. A number of corporations, notably ] and ], have built a significant business around Linux distributions.

The ], on which the various software packages of a distribution built on the Linux kernel are based, explicitly accommodate and encourage commercialization; the relationship between a Linux distribution as a whole and individual vendors may be seen as ]. One common business model of commercial suppliers is charging for support, especially for business users. A number of companies also offer a specialized business version of their distribution, which adds proprietary support packages and tools to administer higher numbers of installations or to simplify administrative tasks.

Another business model is to give away the software in order to sell hardware. This used to be the norm in the computer industry, with operating systems such as ], ] and versions of ] prior to 7.5 freely copyable (but not modifiable). As computer hardware standardized throughout the 1980s, it became more difficult for hardware manufacturers to profit from this tactic, as the OS would run on any manufacturers computer that shared the same architecture.

===Programming on Linux===
Linux distributions support dozens of ]s. The most common collection of utilities for building both Linux applications and operating system programs is found within the ], which includes the ] (GCC) and the ].{{Citation needed|date=May 2011}} Amongst others, GCC provides compilers for ], ], ], ], and ]. ] compilers for Linux include the ], ], and IBM XL ]/] Compiler. ] in the form of ] is supported in such forms as ], ], and ].

Most distributions also include support for ], ], ], ] and other ]. While not as common, Linux also supports ] (via ]), ], and ]. A number of ]s and development kits run on Linux, including the original Sun Microsystems JVM (]), and IBM's J2SE RE, as well as many open-source projects like ] and ].

The two main frameworks for developing graphical applications are those of ] and ].{{Citation needed|date=May 2011}} These projects are based on the ] and ] ]s, respectively, which can also be used independently of the larger framework. Both support a wide variety of languages. There are a number of ]s available including ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ] and ], while the long-established editors ] and ] remain popular.<ref>{{cite web | first = Joe | last = Brockmeier | title = A survey of Linux Web development tools | url = http://programming.linux.com/programming/05/10/03/1828224.shtml?tid=63&tid=47 | accessdate = 2006-12-16 }}</ref>

==Uses==
As well as those designed for general purpose use on desktops and servers, distributions may be specialized for different purposes including: ] support, ], stability, security, localization to a specific region or language, targeting of specific user groups, support for ] applications, or commitment to a given desktop environment. Furthermore, some distributions deliberately include only ]. Currently, over three hundred distributions are actively developed, with about a dozen distributions being most popular for general-purpose use.<ref>{{cite web | url = http://lwn.net/Distributions/ | title = The LWN.net Linux Distribution List | accessdate = 2006-05-19 }}</ref>

Linux is a widely ] operating system kernel. The Linux kernel runs on a highly diverse range of ]s: in the hand-held ]-based ] and the ] ] ], ]; in devices ranging from ]s to ]s.<ref>{{cite web| url = http://www.freeos.com/articles/4737/ | title = If I could re-write Linux | first = Prakash | last = Advani | date = 8 February 2004 | accessdate = 2007-01-23 | publisher = freeos.com }}</ref> Specialized distributions exist for less mainstream architectures. The ] kernel ] can run on ] or ] ] microprocessors, while the ] kernel fork may run on systems without a ]. The kernel also runs on architectures that were only ever intended to use a manufacturer-created operating system, such as ] computers (with both ] and ] processors), ], ]s, ], and ]s.

There are several industry associations and hardware ] devoted to maintaining and improving support for diverse hardware under Linux, such as ].

===Desktop===
{{Main|Desktop Linux}}

The popularity of Linux on standard desktop computers and laptops has been increasing over the years.<ref></ref> Currently most distributions include a graphical user environment, with the two most popular environments being ] (which can utilize additional ] such as the default ], the ] ]), and the ]. All three are mature and support a wide variety of languages. {{Citation needed|date=May 2011}}

The performance of Linux on the desktop has been a controversial topic; for example in 2007 ] accused the Linux community of favoring performance on servers. He quit Linux kernel development because he was frustrated with this lack of focus on the desktop, and then gave a "tell all" interview on the topic.<ref>{{cite web|title=Linux: why I quit|url=http://apcmag.com/node/6735/|accessdate=2008-01-18|date=2007-07-24|work=APC Magazine|publisher=ACP Magazines}}</ref> Since then a significant amount of development has been undertaken in an effort to improve the desktop experience. Projects such as ] aim for a faster boot time.<ref>{{cite web|title=Performance of Java on Ubuntu vs Windows|url=http://www.phoronix.com/scan.php?page=article&item=java_vm_performance&num=1}}</ref>

Many popular applications are available for a wide variety of operating systems. For example ], ] and ] have downloadable versions for all major operating systems. Furthermore, some applications were initially developed for Linux, such as ], and ], and were ported to other operating systems including ] and ] due to their popularity. In addition, a growing number of proprietary desktop applications are also supported on Linux;<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.iist.unu.edu/globaldesktop/ | title = The Global Desktop Project, Building Technology and Communities|accessdate = 2006-05-07 }}</ref> see ]. In the field of animation and visual effects, most high end software, such as ], Softimage XSI and ], is available for Linux, Windows and/or Mac OS X. There are also ] that have ported their own or other companies' games to Linux.

Many types of applications available for Microsoft Windows and Mac OS X are also available for Linux. Commonly, either a ] application will exist which does the functions of an application found on another operating system, or that application will have a version that works on Linux, such as with ] and some ]. {{Citation needed|date=May 2011}} Furthermore, the ] project provides a Windows compatibility layer to run unmodified Windows applications on Linux. ] is a proprietary solution based on the open source ] project that supports running Windows versions of ], ] applications such as ] and ], ] versions through CS2, and many popular games such as '']'' and '']''. In other cases, where there is no Linux port of some software in areas such as ]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.freeos.com/articles/2540/ |title=Microsoft Office for Linux? |accessdate=2008-02-03 |last=Advani |first=Prakash |date=2000-10-27 |work=FreeOS |publisher=FreeOS Technologies (I) Pvt. Ltd. }}</ref> and ],<ref>{{cite web|url=http://arstechnica.com/guides/tweaks/linux-audio.ars |title=Editing audio in Linux |accessdate=2008-02-03 |last=Smith-Heisters |first=Ian |date=2005-10-11 |work=Ars Technica |publisher=Ars Technica, LLC }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.keyboardmag.com/article/linux-its-not/apr-07/27458 |title=Linux: It's Not Just For Computer Geeks Anymore |accessdate=2008-02-03 |last=Lumma |first=Carl |date = April 2007|work=Keyboard Magazine |publisher=New Bay Media, LLC. }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.soundonsound.com/sos/feb04/articles/mirrorimage.htm |title=Using Linux For Recording & Mastering |accessdate=2008-02-03 |last=James |first=Daniel |date = February 2004|work=Sound On Sound |publisher=SOS Publications Group }}</ref> there is equivalent software available on Linux.

The collaborative nature of free software development allows distributed teams to perform ] of some Linux distributions for use in locales where localizing proprietary systems would not be cost-effective. For example the ] version of the ] distribution was available significantly before ] was translated to Sinhalese.{{Citation needed|date=April 2009}} In this case the ] played a major part in developing the localized system by combining the knowledge of university professors, ]s, and local developers.

Installing, updating and removing software in Linux is typically done through the use of package managers such as the ], ], and ]. While most major Linux distributions have extensive repositories, often containing tens of thousands of packages, not all the software that can run on Linux is available from the official repositories. Alternatively, users can install packages from unofficial repositories, download pre-compiled packages directly from websites, or compile the source code by themselves. All these methods come with different degrees of difficulty, compiling the source code is in general considered a challenging process for new Linux users, but it's hardly needed in modern distributions and is not a method specific to Linux.

<center><gallery>
File:GNOME Shell.png|]
File:Kde42default.png|]
File:Ubuntu 11.04 Installation SS.png|]
File:Xfce-4.4.png|]
File:LXDE desktop full.png|]
</gallery></center>

===Servers, mainframes and supercomputers===
{{multiple image
|direction=horizontal|width=200
|image2=Server Linux.jpg
|caption2=Servers designed for Linux
|image1=JaguarXT5.jpg
|caption1=The ]'s ], until recently the world's fastest supercomputer. It uses the ] as its operating system.<ref name="CrayJag">{{cite web|url = http://www.top500.org/system/10184|title = Jaguar|accessdate = 2009-11-18|last = TOP500.Org|authorlink = |year = 2009}}</ref><ref name="NCCSJag">{{cite web|url = http://www.nccs.gov/computing-resources/jaguar/|title = Jaguar|accessdate = 2009-11-18|last = National Center for Computational Sciences|authorlink = |year = 2009|month = October}}</ref>
}}

] have long been used as ] operating systems, and have risen to prominence in that area; ] reported in September 2006 that eight of the ten most reliable internet hosting companies ran Linux distributions on their ]s.<ref>{{cite web | title = Rackspace Most Reliable Hoster in September | url = http://news.netcraft.com/archives/2006/10/07/rackspace_most_reliable_hoster_in_september.html | publisher = Netcraft | date = 7 October 2006 | accessdate = 2006-11-01}}</ref> Since June 2008, Linux distributions represented five of the top ten, ] three of ten, and ] two of ten;<ref>{{cite web | title = Aplus.Net is the Most Reliable Hosting Company Site in June 2008 | url = http://news.netcraft.com/archives/2008/07/07/aplusnet_is_the_most_reliable_hosting_company_site_in_june_2008.html | publisher = Netcraft | date = 7 July 2008 | accessdate = 2008-07-28}}</ref> since February 2010, Linux distributions represented six of the top ten, ] two of ten, and ] one of ten.<ref>{{cite web | title = Most Reliable Hosting Company Sites in February 2010 | url = http://news.netcraft.com/archives/2010/03/01/most_reliable_hosting_company_sites_in_february_2010.html | publisher = Netcraft | date = 1 March 2010 | accessdate = 2010-03-23}}</ref>

Linux distributions are the cornerstone of the ] server-software combination (Linux, ], ], ]/]/]) which has achieved popularity among developers, and which is one of the more common platforms for website hosting.<ref name="SecuritySpace">{{cite web|author=SecuritySpace|url=http://www.securityspace.com/s_survey/data/201005/index.html |title=Web Server Survey |publisher=SecuritySpace |date=2010-06-01 |accessdate=2010-06-27}}</ref>

] have become increasingly popular on ] in the last decade due to pricing, compared to other mainframe operating systems. {{Citation needed|date=May 2011}} In December 2009, computer giant ] reported that it would predominantly market and sell mainframe-based Enterprise Linux Server.<ref name="The Register">{{cite web|author=Timothy Prickett Morgan|url=http://www.theregister.co.uk/2009/12/11/ibm_linux_only_mainframe/ |title=IBM punts Linux-only mainframes Big MIPS, deep discounts |publisher=The Register |date= |accessdate=2009-07-02}}</ref>

]s are also commonly used as ] for ]s: {{As of|2010|11|01|alt=since November 2010}}, out of the ] systems, 459 (91.8%) run a Linux distribution.<ref name="top500_osfam">{{cite web|author=TOP500.org |url=http://www.top500.org/stats/list/36/osfam |title=Operating system Family share for 11/2010 &#124; TOP500 Supercomputing Sites |publisher=Top500.org |date= |accessdate=2011-01-16}}</ref> Linux was also selected as the operating system for the world's most powerful supercomputer, IBM's ] which will become operational in 2011.<ref name="IBM">{{cite web|url=http://www-03.ibm.com/press/us/en/pressrelease/26599.wss|title=20 Petaflop Sequoia Supercomputer}}</ref>

===Embedded devices===
{{See also|Embedded Linux|Linux devices}}
]
Due to its low cost and ease of customization, ] is often used in ]s. ]—based on a modified version of the Linux kernel—has become a major competitor of Nokia's older ] OS, found in many ]s. During the third quarter of 2010, 25.5% of smartphones sold worldwide used Android (with all Linux variants forming 27.6% of the total during that time).<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.gartner.com/it/page.jsp?id=1466313 | title = Gartner Says Worldwide Mobile Phone Sales Grew 35 Percent in Third Quarter 2010; Smartphone Sales Increased 96 Percent }}</ref> Cell phones and PDAs running Linux on open-source platforms became more common from 2007; examples include the ], ]'s ], and the ]. Continuing the trend, ] (later acquired by ]) produced a new Linux-derived operating system, ], which is built into its new line of ] smartphones. The popular ] digital video recorder also uses a customized Linux,<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.tivo.com/linux/linux.asp | title = TiVo ─ GNU/Linux Source Code | accessdate = 2006-12-12 |archiveurl=http://web.archive.org/web/20070519150730/http://www.tivo.com/linux/linux.asp |archivedate=2007-05-19}}</ref> as do several network ] and ]s from such makers as ]/]. The ], the ], the ] ]/Motif XF ]s,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.mvista.com/downloads/Case_study_MontaVista_Linux_and_Yamaha.pdf |title=Case Study: How MontaVista Linux helped Yamaha developers make a great product greater |accessdate=2007-08-26 |archiveurl = http://web.archive.org/web/20070925210353/http://www.mvista.com/downloads/Case_study_MontaVista_Linux_and_Yamaha.pdf |archivedate = September 25, 2007}}</ref> Yamaha S90XS/S70XS, Yamaha MOX6/MOX8 ]s, Yamaha Motif-Rack XS ], and Roland RD-700GX ] also run Linux. Linux is also used in ] control systems, such as the WholeHogIII console.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.highend.com/products/controllers/Wholehog3Console.asp | title=Embedded Linux: FlyingPigs the WholeHogIII runs on Linux}}</ref>

===Market share and uptake===
{{Main|Linux adoption}}
{{OS marketshare|align=right}}
{{See also|Usage share of operating systems}}
Many quantitative studies of ] / open source software focus on topics including market share and reliability, with numerous studies specifically examining Linux.<ref>{{cite web | first = David A | last = Wheeler | url = http://www.dwheeler.com/oss_fs_why.html | title = Why Open Source Software/Free Software (OSS/FS)? Look at the Numbers! | accessdate = 2006-04-01 }}</ref> The Linux market is growing rapidly, and the revenue of servers, desktops, and packaged software running Linux was expected to exceed $35.7 billion by 2008.<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.techweb.com/wire/showArticle.jhtml?articleID=55800522 | title = Linux To Ring Up $35 Billion By 2008 | accessdate = 2006-04-01 }}</ref>

]'s Q1 2007 report indicated that Linux held 12.7% of the overall server market at that time.<ref name="Linux-watch.com IDC's Q1 2007 report">{{cite web|url=http://www.linux-watch.com/news/NS5369154346.html |title=─ IDC Q1 2007 report |publisher=Linux-watch.com |date=2007-05-29 |accessdate=2009-03-09}}</ref> This estimate was based on the number of Linux servers sold by various companies, and did not include server hardware purchased separately which had Linux installed on it later. In September 2008 Microsoft CEO ] admitted that 60% of web-servers run Linux versus 40% that run ].<ref name="PC World September 2008">
{{cite web|url = http://www.pcworld.com/businesscenter/article/151568/ballmer_still_searching_for_an_answer_to_google.html|title = Ballmer Still Searching for an Answer to Google|accessdate = 2009-06-04|last = Niccolai|first = James|authorlink = |year = 2008|month = September}}</ref>

Primarily based on ], various companies estimated that the desktop market share of Linux range from less than 1% to 4.8%.<ref name="W3Schools">{{cite web|url = http://www.w3schools.com/browsers/browsers_os.asp|title = OS Platform Statistics|accessdate = 2010-07-14|last = W3Schools}}</ref> In comparison, ] hold more than 85%.<ref name="galli2007"/><ref name="paul2007"/><ref name="beer2007"/><ref name="applications2007"/><ref name="xitimonitor2007"/><ref name="globalstats2007"/><ref name="zeitgeist2004"/><ref name="Byfield04May09">{{cite web|url = http://itmanagement.earthweb.com/osrc/article.php/12068_3818696_2/Linux-Desktop-Market-Share-Greater-Than-One-Percent.htm|title = Linux Desktop Market Share: Greater Than One Percent?|accessdate = 2009-05-06|last = Byfield|first = Bruce|authorlink = |year = 2009|month = May}}</ref><ref name="W3CCounterJuly09">{{cite web|url = http://www.w3counter.com/globalstats.php|title = W3Counter – Global Webstats|accessdate = 2009-08-22|last = Awio Web Services|authorlink = |year = 2009|month = August}}</ref>

Analysts and proponents attribute the relative success of Linux to its security, reliability, low cost, and freedom from ].<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.ca.com/za/news/2005/20051010_linux.htm| title = The rise and rise of Linux }}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url = http://www-306.ibm.com/software/info/features/feb152005/ | title = Why customers are flocking to Linux }}</ref>{{Failed verification|date=June 2011}}

The ] compatibility layer allows users to run many programs designed for Windows under Linux.<ref>{{cite web
|url=http://www.winehq.org/about/
|title=WineHQ – About Wine
|publisher=WineHQ
|accessdate=2010-10-10
}}</ref> About half of Wine's code has been contributed by volunteers and half sponsored by commercial interests including ], which produces a commercial version of the software.
Since 2009, Google has also provided funding to the Wine project.<ref>{{cite mailing list |last=Kegel |first=Dan |url=http://article.gmane.org/gmane.comp.emulators.wine.devel/56872 |title=Google's support for Wine in 2007 |date=2008-02-14 |mailinglist=wine-devel |accessdate=2009-01-03}}</ref><ref>{{cite web
|url=http://code.google.com/opensource/wine.html
|title=Open Source Patches: Wine
|publisher=Google
|accessdate=2008-09-07
}}</ref>

The ] project of One Laptop Per Child is creating a new and potentially much larger Linux community which is planned to reach millions of schoolchildren and their families in the developing world.<ref>{{cite web|title=mission|url=http://www.laptop.org/en/vision/mission/index.shtml|publisher=laptop.org|accessdate=2008-08-14}}</ref> Major supporters of the project include ], ], and ].<ref></ref> Although the XO will have a Windows option, it will be primarily deployed with ] Linux while using ] as the desktop environment.

For years Linux has been the platform of choice in the film industry.{{citation needed|date=May 2011}} The first major film produced on Linux servers was 1997's ]. {{Citation needed|date=May 2011}} Since then major studios including ], ], ], and ] have migrated to Linux.<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.linuxjournal.com/article/5472 | title = Industry of Change: Linux Storms Hollywood | accessdate = 2009-03-11 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url = http://video.fosdem.org/2008/maintracks/FOSDEM2008-tuxwithshades.ogg | title = Tux with Shades, Linux in Hollywood | accessdate = 2009-03-11 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.wetafx.co.nz/jobs/ | title = Weta Digital – Jobs | accessdate = 2010-11-17 }}</ref> According to the Linux Movies Group, more than 95% of the servers and desktops at large animation and visual effects companies use Linux.<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.linuxmovies.org/ | title = LinuxMovies.org – Advancing Linux Motion Picture Technology | accessdate = 2009-03-11 }}</ref>

==Copyright and naming==
{{See also|SCO-Linux controversies}}
Linux and most GNU software are ] under the ] (GPL). The GPL requires that anyone who distributes Linux must make the source code (and any modifications) available to the recipient under the same terms. Other key components of a software system may use other licenses; many libraries use the ] (LGPL), a more permissive variant of the GPL, and the ] implementation of the ] uses the ].

Torvalds states that the Linux kernel will not move from version 2 of the GPL to version 3. He specifically dislikes some provisions in the new license which prohibit the use of the software in ],<ref>{{cite web | url=http://lkml.org/lkml/2006/1/25/273 | title=Re: GPL V3 and Linux ─ Dead Copyright Holders | author=Torvalds, Linus | date=2006-01-26 | publisher=]}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=http://lkml.org/lkml/2006/9/25/161 | title=Re: GPLv3 Position Statement | author=Torvalds, Linus | date=2006-09-25 | publisher=]}}</ref> and it would also be impractical to obtain permission from all the copyright holders, who number in the thousands.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.linux-watch.com/news/NS3301105877.html |title=– Keeping an Eye on the Penguin |publisher=Linux-watch.com |date=2006-02-07 |accessdate=2010-11-09}}</ref>


A 2001 study of ] 7.1 found that this distribution contained 30 million ].<ref name = "estimating_size"/> Using the ], the study estimated that this distribution required about eight thousand man-years of development time. According to the study, if all this software had been developed by conventional ] means, it would have cost about ${{formatprice|{{inflation|US|1080000000|2000}}|0}} ({{CURRENTISOYEAR}} US dollars) to develop in the United States.<ref name = "estimating_size">{{cite web | first = David A | last = Wheeler | date = 2002-07-29 | url = http://www.dwheeler.com/sloc/redhat71-v1/redhat71sloc.html | title = More Than a Gigabuck: Estimating GNU/Linux's Size | accessdate = 2006-05-11 }}</ref> A 2001 study of ] 7.1 found that this distribution contained 30 million ].<ref name = "estimating_size"/> Using the ], the study estimated that this distribution required about eight thousand man-years of development time. According to the study, if all this software had been developed by conventional ] means, it would have cost about ${{formatprice|{{inflation|US|1080000000|2000}}|0}} ({{CURRENTISOYEAR}} US dollars) to develop in the United States.<ref name = "estimating_size">{{cite web | first = David A | last = Wheeler | date = 2002-07-29 | url = http://www.dwheeler.com/sloc/redhat71-v1/redhat71sloc.html | title = More Than a Gigabuck: Estimating GNU/Linux's Size | accessdate = 2006-05-11 }}</ref>

Most of the code (71%) was written in the ] ] ], but many other languages were used, including ], ], ], ], ], and various ]ing languages. Slightly over half of all lines of code were licensed under the GPL. The Linux kernel itself was 2.4 million lines of code, or 8% of the total.<ref name = "estimating_size"/>

In a later study, the same analysis was performed for ] version 4.0 (etch, which was released in 2007).<ref>{{cite web | first = Juan José | last = Amor | coauthors = et al. | date = 17 June 2007 | url = https://penta.debconf.org/~joerg/attachments/33-measuring_etch_slides.pdf | title = Measuring Etch: the size of Debian 4.0 | accessdate = 2007-09-16 }}</ref> This distribution contained close to 283 million source lines of code, and the study estimated that it would have required about seventy three thousand man-years and cost US${{formatprice|{{inflation|US|7170186240|2007}}|0}} (in {{CURRENTISOYEAR}} dollars) to develop by conventional means. <!-- original paper quoted 5358000000 euros, but Misplaced Pages does not have an inflation calculator for euros; converted to USD via June 17 2007 exchange rate as provided by http://www.bankofcanada.ca/en/rates/exchform.html and double-checked against other sources of historical exchange rates ... it is also more useful to quote the number in dollars, for comparison to other dollar amounts quoted in this article, e.g. the 2001 study above -->

In the United States, the name ''Linux'' is a trademark registered to Linus Torvalds.<ref>{{cite web | url = http://assignments.uspto.gov/assignments/q?db=tm&rno=1916230 | title = U.S. Reg No: 1916230 | publisher = United States Patent and Trademark Office | accessdate = 2006-04-01 }}</ref> Initially, nobody registered it, but on 15 August 1994, William R. Della Croce, Jr. filed for the trademark ''Linux'', and then demanded royalties from Linux distributors. In 1996, Torvalds and some affected organizations sued him to have the trademark assigned to Torvalds, and in 1997 the case was settled.<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.linuxjournal.com/article/9065 | title = Linux Timeline | publisher = Linux Journal | date = 31 May 2006 }}</ref> The licensing of the trademark has since been handled by the ]. Torvalds has stated that he trademarked the name only to prevent someone else from using it. LMI originally charged a nominal sublicensing fee for use of the Linux name as part of trademarks,<ref>{{cite news
| author = Neil McAllister
| title = Linus gets tough on Linux trademark
| url = http://www.infoworld.com/article/05/09/05/36OPopenent_1.html
| work = ]
| date = 2005-09-05
| accessdate = 2008-02-24
}}</ref> but later changed this in favor of offering a free, perpetual worldwide sublicense.<ref>{{cite web
| url = http://www.linuxmark.org
| title = Linux Mark Institute
| accessdate = 2008-02-24
| quote = LMI has restructured its sublicensing program. Our new sublicense agreement is: Free – approved sublicense holders pay no fees; Perpetual – sublicense terminates only in breach of the agreement or when your organization ceases to use its mark; Worldwide – one sublicense covers your use of the mark anywhere in the world
}}</ref>

===GNU/Linux===
{{Main|GNU/Linux naming controversy}}

The ] views Linux distributions that use GNU software as ] and they ask that such operating systems be referred to as ''GNU/Linux'' or ''a Linux-based GNU system''.<ref name="Stallman01">{{cite web | title = Linux and the GNU Project | url = http://www.gnu.org/gnu/linux-and-gnu.html | first = Richard | last = Stallman | authorlink = Richard Stallman | date = 2007-03-03 | accessdate = 2007-03-12 | publisher = Free Software Foundation }}</ref> The media and common usage, however, refers to this family of operating systems simply as ''Linux'', as do many large Linux distributions (e.g. ] Linux or ]). Some distributions, notably those based on ], use ''GNU/Linux''. The naming issue remains controversial.

==See also==
{{Portal box|Linux|Free software}}
{{Refbegin|2}}
* ]
* ]
* ]
* ]
* ]
* ]
* ]
* ]
* ]
* ]
*]
{{Refend}}

==References==

{{Reflist|colwidth=30em}}

==External links==
{{Sister project links}}
* {{dmoz|Computers/Software/Operating_Systems/Linux|Linux}}
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{{Linux}}
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Revision as of 11:32, 30 June 2011

"GNU/Linux" redirects here. For See also GNU/Linux naming controversy, see GNU/Linux (disambiguation).

Template:Two other uses

Operating system
Linux
 Tux the penguin, mascot of Linux
DeveloperGNU Project, Linus Torvalds and many others
Written inAssembly language, C
OS familyUnix-like
Working stateCurrent
Source modelFree and open source software
Marketing targetDesktops, servers, embedded devices
Available inMultilingual
PlatformsDEC Alpha, ARM, AVR32, Blackfin, ETRAX CRIS, FR-V, H8/300, Itanium, M32R, m68k, Microblaze, MIPS, MN103, PA-RISC, PowerPC, s390, S+core, SuperH, SPARC, TILE64, Unicore32, x86, Xtensa
Kernel typeMonolithic
UserlandGNU and others
Default
user interface		Graphical (X Window System) and command-line interface
LicenseVarious including GNU General Public License, BSD License, Apache License, MIT License, and others
Official websitekernel.org

Linux (commonly /ˈlɪnəks/ LIN-əks in English, also Template:Pron-en LIN-uuks in Europe) refers to the family of Unix-like computer operating systems using the Linux kernel. Linux can be installed on a wide variety of computer hardware, ranging from mobile phones, tablet computers, routers, and video game consoles, to mainframes and supercomputers. Linux is a leading server operating system, and runs the 10 fastest supercomputers in the world.


A 2001 study of Red Hat Linux 7.1 found that this distribution contained 30 million source lines of code. Using the Constructive Cost Model, the study estimated that this distribution required about eight thousand man-years of development time. According to the study, if all this software had been developed by conventional proprietary means, it would have cost about $1.91 billion (2024 US dollars) to develop in the United States.

  1. Linux Online (2008). "Linux Logos and Mascots". Retrieved 2009-08-11.
  2. "Debian GNU/Linux Licenses – Ohloh". ohloh.net. Retrieved 2009-03-27.
  3. Safalra (2007-04-14). "Pronunciation of 'Linux'". Safalra’s Website. Retrieved 2009-09-15.
  4. Free On-Line Dictionary of Computing (2006). "Linux". Retrieved 2009-09-15. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |month= ignored (help)
  5. Torvalds used /ˈlɪnʊks/ in English.
    "Re: How to pronounce "Linux"?". 23 April 1992. 1992Apr23.123216.22024@klaava.Helsinki.FI. {{cite newsgroup}}: |access-date= requires |url= (help); Unknown parameter |newsgroups= ignored (help)
    Torvalds recorded himself pronouncing the name during the 1990s. (/ˈlɪnʊks/: "How to pronounce Linux?". Retrieved 2006-12-17.) and in Swedish (/ˈlɪːnɤks/: "Linus pronouncing Linux in English and Swedish". Retrieved 2007-01-20.)
  6. IBM (2001). "Linux Watch". Retrieved 2009-09-29. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |month= ignored (help)
  7. Linux Devices (2010). "Trolltech rolls "complete" Linux smartphone stack". Retrieved 2009-09-29. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |month= ignored (help)
  8. Computerworld, Patrick Thibodeau. "IBM's newest mainframe is all Linux". Retrieved 2009-02-22.
  9. Lyons, Daniel. "Linux rules supercomputers". Forbes. Retrieved 2007-02-22.
  10. Henry Burkhardt, KSR. "June 2010 | TOP500 Supercomputing Sites". Top500.org. Retrieved 2010-10-30.
  11. ^ Wheeler, David A (2002-07-29). "More Than a Gigabuck: Estimating GNU/Linux's Size". Retrieved 2006-05-11.
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