General
| Can Linux Run Microsoft Windows Programs? We at The GoNix Initiative have a large list of Linux Alternatives to Windows Software so you can find native Linux replacements to expensive, preparatory Windows titles; but if you insist on running Windows programs within Linux we recommend WINE Wine is a free software application that aims to allow Unix-like computer operating systems on the x86 or x86-64 architecture to execute programs written for Microsoft Wi... |
| How Do I Get Started? If you are new to Linux, you should start by buying or downloading a general-purpose Linux distribution. A distribution is a complete operating system, including the Linux kernel and all the utilities and software you are likely to need, ready to install and use. Most distributions include thousands of software packages, including user-friendly desktops, office suites, and games. There are a handful of major Linux distributions, and as a beginner you are probably safer using one of them. For ... |
| How Do I Install Linux? Once you obtain a distribution, it will contain instructions on installation. Each distribution has its own installation program. Generally, once you've downloaded your distribution and burnt it to CD or DVD (or purchased a disk with the distribution you intend to use) you'll insert the disk into your computer and boot (or reboot) it. As long as your system is configured to boot from the CDRom/DVDRom drive in your system, it should boot to your distribution's setup program to begin configu... |
| How Is Linux Licensed? Linux is licensed on the GNU General Public License. The licenses of the utilities and programs which come with the installations vary. Much of the code is from the GNU Project at the Free Software Foundation, and is also under the GPL. Some other major programs often included in Linux distributions are under a BSD license and other similar licenses. You can view various Open Source Licenses at The Open Source Initiative. |
| What Is BSD? Berkeley Software Distribution (BSD, sometimes called Berkeley Unix) is the UNIX operating system derivative developed and distributed by the Computer Systems Research Group of the University of California, Berkeley, from 1977 to 1995. Historically, BSD has been considered a branch of UNIX â€" "BSD UNIX", because it shared the initial codebase and design with the original AT&T UNIX operating system. In the 1980s, BSD was widely adopted by vendors of workstation-class systems in ... |
| What Is Linux? Linux is a generic term referring to Unix-like computer operating systems based on the Linux kernel. Their development is one of the most prominent examples of free and open source software collaboration; typically all the underlying source code can be used, freely modified, and redistributed by anyone under the terms of the GNU GPL and other free licenses. Linux is predominantly known for its use in servers, although it is installed on a wide variety of computer hardware, ranging from embedd... |
| What Is Unix? Unix (officially trademarked as UNIX, sometimes also written as Unix with small caps) is a computer operating system originally developed in 1969 by a group of AT&T employees at Bell Labs, including Ken Thompson, Dennis Ritchie, Douglas McIlroy, and Joe Ossanna. Today's Unix systems are split into various branches, developed over time by AT&T as well as various commercial vendors and non-profit organizations. As of 2007, the owner of the trademark is The Open Group, an industry standa... |
| Who is Linus Torvalds? Linus Benedict Torvalds (born on December 28, 1969 in Helsinki, Finland) is a Finland-Swedish software engineer best known for having initiated the development of the Linux kernel. He later became the chief architect of the Linux kernel, and now acts as the project's coordinator. |
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