What is Linux Operating System

What is Linux?

Linux is an operating system that behaves and performs similarly to the Unix operating system that was developed by AT&T Bell Labs. It has all of the features of a modern operating system like true multitasking, threads, virtual memory, shared libraries, demand loading, copy on write executables, proper memory management, loadable device driver modules, video buffering and TCP/IP networking.

Linux was originally written for Intel 80386 processor based PC’s but now also includes 80486 processor and all Pentium chips currently on the market. Now, there are many other ports developed to handle other hardware platforms such as Amiga, Atari and iMac ports.

The operating system

What is an operating system? An operating system is a collection of programs and configuration files that works collectively to make your system operate. Everything from the output to the display screen, keyboard input, controlling peripheral devices and to the way the desktop looks is all part of the operating system. Any additional programs installed on your computer will be depended on the operating system for certain files called libraries to function properly. It is the most important program that can run on your computer.

There is not much to an operating system. It’s pretty plain without the programs, however the programs won’t run without an operating system. Both works together to make your system whole which you can utilize for your computing needs.

The Kernel

The kernel is the core of the Linux operating system. Every part of your computer like video displays sounds from your speakers and other components are considered hardware. The Linux kernel job is to drive the hardware components and make them function. It is also responsible for controlling other aspects of the system that run silently in the background. The kernel is only one part of the Linux operating system. Many other programs and the libraries are making your system run. The libraries and kernel in other operating system such as Windows operating system work very differently from Linux operating system. You would have to install special libraries and configurations to allow you to run programs made for one operating system to work in another. Without it, those programs would not work.

Linux Beginnings

A man named Linus Torvalds created his own open source operating system called Linux. Unlike Windows, open source code allows any user to make modifications to Linux kernel, libraries, cores files, software applications and even to the way it looks. Linus created the kernel and used GNU programs to make the operating system complete. Everyday, thousands of programmers work to improve the Linux operating system. The only stipulation for this open source is that all improvements and the source code for it is made available free to everyone to distribute, modify and use under the GNU General Public License.

How do Linux Versions work?

There are several stable versions of Linux and one development version at any given time. Unlike most proprietary software, older stable versions continue to be supported for as long as there is interest. Linux version numbers follow traditional number sequences. For example, each version has three number, i.e. X.Y.Z.

The first number “X” is only increments when significant changes happen. This has happen only once since one version will no longer operated correctly on the other.

The second number “Y” is the development series. A stable kernel will always have an even number. A development kernel will always be an odd number.

The third number “Z” is the exact version of the kernel you have. It increments on every release.

The most current stable series is 2.4.x and the most current development series is 2.5.x. Keep in mind though that there are many people continuing to run 2.2.x and even 2.0.x kernels, and continue to receive bugfixes. Linux developers are actively working on development series code, which is always available for public viewing, testing and use, although it is not recommended for production use. This is part of the open source development. As some point, the 2.5.x development will be the 2.6.0 kernel and a new stable series is established. Then the 2.7.x development series will begin. Or, if any real changes develop, it could be a 3.0.0 series instead.