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Tux the penguin, the mascot of Linux

Linux (/ˈlɪnʊks/, LIN-uuks) is a family of open-source Unix-like operating systems based on the Linux kernel, an operating system kernel first released on September 17, 1991, by Linus Torvalds. Linux is typically packaged as a Linux distribution (distro), which includes the kernel and supporting system software and libraries—most of which are provided by third parties—to create a complete operating system, designed as a clone of Unix and released under the copyleft GPL license.

Linux is one of the most prominent examples of free and open-source software collaboration. While originally developed for x86 based personal computers, it has since been ported to more platforms than any other operating system, and is used on a wide variety of devices including PCs, workstations, mainframes and embedded systems. Linux is the predominant operating system for servers and is also used on all of the world's 500 fastest supercomputers. When combined with Android, which is Linux-based and designed for smartphones, they have the largest installed base of all general-purpose operating systems. (Full article...)

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  • Image 1 Puppy Linux FossaPup 9.5 Puppy Linux is a family of light-weight Linux distributions that focus on ease of use and minimal memory footprint. The entire system can be run from random-access memory (RAM) with current versions generally taking up about 600 MB (64-bit), 300 MB (32-bit), allowing the boot medium to be removed after the operating system has started. Applications such as AbiWord, Gnumeric and MPlayer are included, along with a choice of lightweight web browsers and a utility for downloading other packages. The distribution was originally developed by Barry Kauler and other members of the community, until Kauler retired in 2013. The tool Woof can build a Puppy Linux distribution from the binary packages of other Linux distributions. (Full article...)

    Puppy Linux FossaPup 9.5

    Puppy Linux is a family of light-weight Linux distributions that focus on ease of use and minimal memory footprint. The entire system can be run from random-access memory (RAM) with current versions generally taking up about 600 MB (64-bit), 300 MB (32-bit), allowing the boot medium to be removed after the operating system has started. Applications such as AbiWord, Gnumeric and MPlayer are included, along with a choice of lightweight web browsers and a utility for downloading other packages. The distribution was originally developed by Barry Kauler and other members of the community, until Kauler retired in 2013. The tool Woof can build a Puppy Linux distribution from the binary packages of other Linux distributions. (Full article...)
  • Image 2 Tux Racer is a 2000 open-source winter sports racing video game starring the Linux mascot, Tux the penguin. It was originally developed by Jasmin Patry as a computer graphics project at the University of Waterloo. Later on, Patry and the newly founded Sunspire Studios, composed of several former students of the university, expanded it. In the game, the player controls Tux as he slides down a course of snow and ice collecting herrings. Tux Racer was officially downloaded over one million times as of 2001. It also was well received, often being acclaimed for the graphics, fast-paced gameplay, and replayability, and was a fan favorite among Linux users and the free software community. The game's popularity secured the development of a proprietized release that included enhanced graphics and multiplayer, and it also became the first GPL-licensed game to receive an arcade adaptation. It is the only product that Sunspire Studios developed and released, after which the company liquidated. (Full article...)
    Tux Racer is a 2000 open-source winter sports racing video game starring the Linux mascot, Tux the penguin. It was originally developed by Jasmin Patry as a computer graphics project at the University of Waterloo. Later on, Patry and the newly founded Sunspire Studios, composed of several former students of the university, expanded it. In the game, the player controls Tux as he slides down a course of snow and ice collecting herrings.

    Tux Racer was officially downloaded over one million times as of 2001. It also was well received, often being acclaimed for the graphics, fast-paced gameplay, and replayability, and was a fan favorite among Linux users and the free software community. The game's popularity secured the development of a proprietized release that included enhanced graphics and multiplayer, and it also became the first GPL-licensed game to receive an arcade adaptation. It is the only product that Sunspire Studios developed and released, after which the company liquidated. (Full article...)
  • Image 3 Linux began in 1991 as a personal project by Finnish student Linus Torvalds to create a new free operating system kernel. The resulting Linux kernel has been marked by constant growth throughout its history. Since the initial release of its source code in 1991, it has grown from a small number of C files under a license prohibiting commercial distribution to the 4.15 version in 2018 with more than 23.3 million lines of source code, not counting comments, under the GNU General Public License v2 with a syscall exception meaning anything that uses the kernel via system calls are not subject to the GNU GPL. (Full article...)
    Linux began in 1991 as a personal project by Finnish student Linus Torvalds to create a new free operating system kernel. The resulting Linux kernel has been marked by constant growth throughout its history. Since the initial release of its source code in 1991, it has grown from a small number of C files under a license prohibiting commercial distribution to the 4.15 version in 2018 with more than 23.3 million lines of source code, not counting comments, under the GNU General Public License v2 with a syscall exception meaning anything that uses the kernel via system calls are not subject to the GNU GPL. (Full article...)
  • Image 4 Security-Enhanced Linux (SELinux) is a Linux kernel security module that provides a mechanism for supporting access control security policies, including mandatory access controls (MAC). SELinux is a set of kernel modifications and user-space tools that have been added to various Linux distributions. Its architecture strives to separate enforcement of security decisions from the security policy, and streamlines the amount of software involved with security policy enforcement. The key concepts underlying SELinux can be traced to several earlier projects by the United States National Security Agency (NSA). (Full article...)

    Security-Enhanced Linux (SELinux) is a Linux kernel security module that provides a mechanism for supporting access control security policies, including mandatory access controls (MAC).

    SELinux is a set of kernel modifications and user-space tools that have been added to various Linux distributions. Its architecture strives to separate enforcement of security decisions from the security policy, and streamlines the amount of software involved with security policy enforcement. The key concepts underlying SELinux can be traced to several earlier projects by the United States National Security Agency (NSA). (Full article...)
  • Image 5 GoboLinux is a Linux distribution whose most prominent feature is a reorganization of the traditional Linux file system. Rather than following the Filesystem Hierarchy Standard like most Unix-like systems, each program in a GoboLinux system has its own subdirectory tree, where all of its files (including settings specific for that program) may be found. Thus, a program "Foo" has all of its specific files and libraries in /Programs/Foo, under the corresponding version of this program at hand. For example, the commonly known GCC compiler suite version 8.1.0, would reside under the directory /Programs/GCC/8.1.0. According to the GoboLinux developers, this results in a cleaner system. (Full article...)
    GoboLinux is a Linux distribution whose most prominent feature is a reorganization of the traditional Linux file system. Rather than following the Filesystem Hierarchy Standard like most Unix-like systems, each program in a GoboLinux system has its own subdirectory tree, where all of its files (including settings specific for that program) may be found. Thus, a program "Foo" has all of its specific files and libraries in /Programs/Foo, under the corresponding version of this program at hand. For example, the commonly known GCC compiler suite version 8.1.0, would reside under the directory /Programs/GCC/8.1.0.

    According to the GoboLinux developers, this results in a cleaner system. (Full article...)
  • Image 6 Besides the Linux distributions designed for general-purpose use on desktops and servers, distributions may be specialized for different purposes including computer architecture support, embedded systems, stability, security, localization to a specific region or language, targeting of specific user groups, support for real-time applications, or commitment to a given desktop environment. Furthermore, some distributions deliberately include only free software. As of 2015[update], over four hundred Linux distributions are actively developed, with about a dozen distributions being most popular for general-purpose use. (Full article...)
    Besides the Linux distributions designed for general-purpose use on desktops and servers, distributions may be specialized for different purposes including computer architecture support, embedded systems, stability, security, localization to a specific region or language, targeting of specific user groups, support for real-time applications, or commitment to a given desktop environment. Furthermore, some distributions deliberately include only free software. As of 2015, over four hundred Linux distributions are actively developed, with about a dozen distributions being most popular for general-purpose use. (Full article...)
  • Image 7 Gentoo Logo Gentoo Linux (pronounced /ˈdʒɛntuː/ JEN-too) is a Linux distribution built using the Portage package management system. Unlike a binary software distribution, the source code is compiled locally according to the user's preferences and is often optimized for the specific type of computer. Precompiled binaries are available for some packages. Gentoo runs on a wide variety of processor architectures. Gentoo package management is designed to be modular, portable, easy to maintain, and flexible. Gentoo describes itself as a meta-distribution because of its adaptability, in that the majority of its users have configurations and sets of installed programs which are unique to the system and the applications they use. (Full article...)

    Gentoo Logo

    Gentoo Linux (pronounced /ˈdʒɛntuː/ JEN-too) is a Linux distribution built using the Portage package management system. Unlike a binary software distribution, the source code is compiled locally according to the user's preferences and is often optimized for the specific type of computer. Precompiled binaries are available for some packages. Gentoo runs on a wide variety of processor architectures.

    Gentoo package management is designed to be modular, portable, easy to maintain, and flexible. Gentoo describes itself as a meta-distribution because of its adaptability, in that the majority of its users have configurations and sets of installed programs which are unique to the system and the applications they use. (Full article...)
  • Image 8 Linux malware includes viruses, Trojans, worms and other types of malware that affect the Linux family of operating systems. Linux, Unix and other Unix-like computer operating systems are generally regarded as very well-protected against, but not immune to, computer viruses. (Full article...)
    Linux malware includes viruses, Trojans, worms and other types of malware that affect the Linux family of operating systems. Linux, Unix and other Unix-like computer operating systems are generally regarded as very well-protected against, but not immune to, computer viruses. (Full article...)
  • Image 9 Arch Linux (/ɑːrtʃ/) is an open source, rolling release Linux distribution. Arch Linux is kept up-to-date by regularly updating the individual pieces of software that it comprises. Arch Linux is intentionally minimal, and is meant to be configured by the user during installation so they may add only what they require. Arch Linux provides monthly "snapshots" which are used as installation medium. (Full article...)

    Arch Linux (/ɑːrtʃ/) is an open source, rolling release Linux distribution. Arch Linux is kept up-to-date by regularly updating the individual pieces of software that it comprises. Arch Linux is intentionally minimal, and is meant to be configured by the user during installation so they may add only what they require.

    Arch Linux provides monthly "snapshots" which are used as installation medium. (Full article...)
  • Image 10 Asahi Linux is a project that ports the Linux kernel and related software to Apple Silicon-powered Macs, started and led by Hector Martin. It does so by reverse-engineering the SoCs which lack documentation from Apple. (Full article...)

    Asahi Linux is a project that ports the Linux kernel and related software to Apple Silicon-powered Macs, started and led by Hector Martin. It does so by reverse-engineering the SoCs which lack documentation from Apple. (Full article...)
  • Image 11 Container Linux (formerly CoreOS Linux) is a discontinued open-source lightweight operating system based on the Linux kernel and designed for providing infrastructure for clustered deployments. One of its focuses was scalability. As an operating system, Container Linux provided only the minimal functionality required for deploying applications inside software containers, together with built-in mechanisms for service discovery and configuration sharing. Container Linux shares foundations with Gentoo Linux, ChromeOS, and ChromiumOS through a common software development kit (SDK). Container Linux adds new functionality and customization to this shared foundation to support server hardware and use cases. CoreOS was developed primarily by Alex Polvi, Brandon Philips, and Michael Marineau, with its major features available as a stable release. (Full article...)

    Container Linux (formerly CoreOS Linux) is a discontinued open-source lightweight operating system based on the Linux kernel and designed for providing infrastructure for clustered deployments. One of its focuses was scalability. As an operating system, Container Linux provided only the minimal functionality required for deploying applications inside software containers, together with built-in mechanisms for service discovery and configuration sharing.

    Container Linux shares foundations with Gentoo Linux, ChromeOS, and ChromiumOS through a common software development kit (SDK). Container Linux adds new functionality and customization to this shared foundation to support server hardware and use cases. CoreOS was developed primarily by Alex Polvi, Brandon Philips, and Michael Marineau, with its major features available as a stable release. (Full article...)
  • Image 12 Logo The Fedora Project is an independent project to coordinate the development of Fedora Linux, a Linux-based operating system, operating with the mission of creating "an innovative platform for hardware, clouds, and containers that enables software developers and community members to build tailored solutions for their users". The project also oversees Extra Packages for Enterprise Linux, a special interest group which maintains the eponymous packages. The project was founded in 2003 as a result of a merger between the Red Hat Linux (RHL) and Fedora Linux projects. It is sponsored by Red Hat primarily, but its employees make up only 35% of project contributors, and most of the over 2,000 contributors are unaffiliated members of the community. (Full article...)

    Logo

    The Fedora Project is an independent project to coordinate the development of Fedora Linux, a Linux-based operating system, operating with the mission of creating "an innovative platform for hardware, clouds, and containers that enables software developers and community members to build tailored solutions for their users".

    The project also oversees Extra Packages for Enterprise Linux, a special interest group which maintains the eponymous packages. The project was founded in 2003 as a result of a merger between the Red Hat Linux (RHL) and Fedora Linux projects. It is sponsored by Red Hat primarily, but its employees make up only 35% of project contributors, and most of the over 2,000 contributors are unaffiliated members of the community. (Full article...)
  • Image 13 The first-generation Nexus 7 tablet running Android, an operating system using the Linux kernel. While Linux-based operating systems are in common use in tablet computers, they are less frequently adopted as desktop computers. The criticism of Linux focuses on issues concerning use of operating systems which use the Linux kernel. While the Linux-based Android operating system dominates the smartphone market in many countries, and Linux is used on the New York Stock Exchange and most supercomputers, it is used in few desktop and laptop computers. Much of the criticism of Linux is related to the lack of desktop and laptop adoption, although as of 2015[update] there has been growing unease with the project's perspective on security and its adoption of systemd has been controversial. (Full article...)
    The first-generation Nexus 7 tablet running Android, an operating system using the Linux kernel. While Linux-based operating systems are in common use in tablet computers, they are less frequently adopted as desktop computers.

    The criticism of Linux focuses on issues concerning use of operating systems which use the Linux kernel.

    While the Linux-based Android operating system dominates the smartphone market in many countries, and Linux is used on the New York Stock Exchange and most supercomputers, it is used in few desktop and laptop computers. Much of the criticism of Linux is related to the lack of desktop and laptop adoption, although as of 2015 there has been growing unease with the project's perspective on security and its adoption of systemd has been controversial. (Full article...)
  • Image 14 AppArmor ("Application Armor") is a Linux kernel security module that allows the system administrator to restrict programs' capabilities with per-program profiles. Profiles can allow capabilities like network access, raw socket access, and the permission to read, write, or execute files on matching paths. AppArmor supplements the traditional Unix discretionary access control (DAC) model by providing mandatory access control (MAC). It has been partially included in the mainline Linux kernel since version 2.6.36 and its development has been supported by Canonical since 2009. (Full article...)

    AppArmor ("Application Armor") is a Linux kernel security module that allows the system administrator to restrict programs' capabilities with per-program profiles. Profiles can allow capabilities like network access, raw socket access, and the permission to read, write, or execute files on matching paths. AppArmor supplements the traditional Unix discretionary access control (DAC) model by providing mandatory access control (MAC). It has been partially included in the mainline Linux kernel since version 2.6.36 and its development has been supported by Canonical since 2009. (Full article...)
  • Image 15 Kali Linux is a Linux distribution designed for digital forensics and penetration testing. It is maintained and funded by Offensive Security. The software is based on the Debian Testing branch: most packages Kali uses are imported from the Debian repositories. The tagline of Kali Linux and BackTrack is "The quieter you become, the more you are able to hear", which is displayed on some backgrounds, see this example. Kali Linux has approximately 600 penetration-testing programs (tools), including Armitage (a graphical cyber attack management tool), Nmap (a port scanner), Wireshark (a packet analyzer), metasploit (penetration testing framework), John the Ripper (a password cracker), sqlmap (automatic SQL injection and database takeover tool), Aircrack-ng (a software suite for penetration-testing wireless LANs), Burp suite and OWASP ZAP web application security scanners, etc. (Full article...)

    Kali Linux is a Linux distribution designed for digital forensics and penetration testing. It is maintained and funded by Offensive Security. The software is based on the Debian Testing branch: most packages Kali uses are imported from the Debian repositories. The tagline of Kali Linux and BackTrack is "The quieter you become, the more you are able to hear", which is displayed on some backgrounds, see this example.

    Kali Linux has approximately 600 penetration-testing programs (tools), including Armitage (a graphical cyber attack management tool), Nmap (a port scanner), Wireshark (a packet analyzer), metasploit (penetration testing framework), John the Ripper (a password cracker), sqlmap (automatic SQL injection and database takeover tool), Aircrack-ng (a software suite for penetration-testing wireless LANs), Burp suite and OWASP ZAP web application security scanners, etc. (Full article...)
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Ubiquity of the Linux kernel

The Linux kernel drives embedded systems, personal computers and supercomputers.

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The following are images from various Linux-related articles on Wikipedia.
  • Image 1Logo of Debian GNU/kFreeBSD (from Debian)
    Logo of Debian GNU/kFreeBSD (from Debian)
  • Image 2Fedora 21, a version that brought experimental Wayland and HiDPI support (2014-12) (from Fedora Linux)
    Fedora 21, a version that brought experimental Wayland and HiDPI support (2014-12) (from Fedora Linux)
  • Image 3Fedora 15 (Lovelock), the first release with GNOME 3 and GNOME Shell (2011-05) (from Fedora Linux)
    Fedora 15 (Lovelock), the first release with GNOME 3 and GNOME Shell (2011-05) (from Fedora Linux)
  • Image 4Fedora Workstation 41 installation summary (from Fedora Linux)
    Fedora Workstation 41 installation summary (from Fedora Linux)
  • Image 5Ubuntu family tree[dubious – discuss] (from Ubuntu)
    Ubuntu family tree[dubious – discuss] (from Ubuntu)
  • Image 6Debian 12 installation menu (UEFI Mode) (from Debian)
    Debian 12 installation menu (UEFI Mode) (from Debian)
  • Image 7The core values of the Fedora community (from Fedora Linux)
    The core values of the Fedora community (from Fedora Linux)
  • Image 8An iPod booting iPodLinux (from Linux kernel)
    An iPod booting iPodLinux (from Linux kernel)
  • Image 9Redevelopment costs of Linux kernel (from Linux kernel)
    Redevelopment costs of Linux kernel (from Linux kernel)
  • Image 10Using Aptitude to view Debian package details (from Debian)
    Using Aptitude to view Debian package details (from Debian)
  • Image 11Linus Torvalds at the LinuxCon Europe 2014 in Düsseldorf (from Linux kernel)
    Linus Torvalds at the LinuxCon Europe 2014 in Düsseldorf (from Linux kernel)
  • Image 12Debian 4 (Etch), 2007 (from Debian)
    Debian 4 (Etch), 2007 (from Debian)
  • Image 13Four interfaces are distinguished: two internal to the kernel, and two between the kernel and userspace. (from Linux kernel)
    Four interfaces are distinguished: two internal to the kernel, and two between the kernel and userspace. (from Linux kernel)
  • Image 14Map of the Linux kernel (from Linux kernel)
    Map of the Linux kernel (from Linux kernel)
  • Image 15TiVo DVR, a consumer device running Linux (from Linux kernel)
    TiVo DVR, a consumer device running Linux (from Linux kernel)
  • Deepin-logo
    Deepin logo (from Ubuntu)
  • Image 17Logo of GNU Hurd (from Debian)
    Logo of GNU Hurd (from Debian)
  • Image 18At XDC2014, Alex Deucher from AMD announced the unified kernel-mode driver. The proprietary Linux graphic driver, libGL-fglrx-glx, will share the same DRM infrastructure with Mesa 3D. As there is no stable in-kernel ABI, AMD had to constantly adapt the former binary blob used by Catalyst. (from Linux kernel)
    At XDC2014, Alex Deucher from AMD announced the unified kernel-mode driver. The proprietary Linux graphic driver, libGL-fglrx-glx, will share the same DRM infrastructure with Mesa 3D. As there is no stable in-kernel ABI, AMD had to constantly adapt the former binary blob used by Catalyst. (from Linux kernel)
  • Image 19Debian GNU/Hurd running on Xfce (from Debian)
    Debian GNU/Hurd running on Xfce (from Debian)
  • Image 20Ubuntu - Version History - Visual Timeline - 20231019 (from Ubuntu)
    Ubuntu - Version History - Visual Timeline - 20231019 (from Ubuntu)
  • Image 21The Linux kernel supports various hardware architectures, providing a common platform for software, including proprietary software. (from Linux kernel)
    The Linux kernel supports various hardware architectures, providing a common platform for software, including proprietary software. (from Linux kernel)
  • Image 22Fedora KDE Plasma Desktop, one of the several official Fedora Spins (from Fedora Linux)
    Fedora KDE Plasma Desktop, one of the several official Fedora Spins (from Fedora Linux)
  • Image 23Debian 6 (Squeeze), 2011 (from Debian)
    Debian 6 (Squeeze), 2011 (from Debian)
  • Image 24The official logo (also known as open use logo) that contains the well-known Debian swirl (from Debian)
    The official logo (also known as open use logo) that contains the well-known Debian swirl (from Debian)
  • Image 25Text version of the Debian Installer (from Debian)
    Text version of the Debian Installer (from Debian)
  • Image 26Sankey diagram of Linux Kernel Source Lines of Code (from Linux kernel)
    Sankey diagram of Linux Kernel Source Lines of Code (from Linux kernel)
  • Image 27Screenshot of GDebi Package installer (from Debian)
    Screenshot of GDebi Package installer (from Debian)
  • Image 28Graphical version of the Debian Installer (from Debian)
    Graphical version of the Debian Installer (from Debian)
  • Image 29Xfce is default on CD images and non-Linux ports. (from Debian)
    Xfce is default on CD images and non-Linux ports. (from Debian)
  • Image 30Fedora Core 1.0, a continuation of Red Hat Linux with GNOME 2.4 (2003-11) (from Fedora Linux)
    Fedora Core 1.0, a continuation of Red Hat Linux with GNOME 2.4 (2003-11) (from Fedora Linux)
  • Image 31Iceweasel logo (from Debian)
    Iceweasel logo (from Debian)
  • Image 32A Debian 10 Buster box cover (from Debian)
    A Debian 10 Buster box cover (from Debian)
  • The Linux Storage Stack Diagram (from Linux kernel)
  • Image 34Linux kernel panic output (from Linux kernel)
    Linux kernel panic output (from Linux kernel)
  • Image 35Package installed with Aptitude (from Debian)
    Package installed with Aptitude (from Debian)
  • Image 36Debian 12 console login and welcome message (from Debian)
    Debian 12 console login and welcome message (from Debian)
  • Image 37Eucalyptus interface (from Ubuntu)
    Eucalyptus interface (from Ubuntu)
  • Image 38HP 9000 C110 PA-RISC workstation booting Debian Lenny (from Debian)
    HP 9000 C110 PA-RISC workstation booting Debian Lenny (from Debian)
  • Image 39Boot messages of a Linux kernel 2.6.25.17 (from Linux kernel)
    Boot messages of a Linux kernel 2.6.25.17 (from Linux kernel)
  • (from Ubuntu)
    Cloud Ubuntu Orange Box
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