Linux

Linux is a prevalent Unix-like operating system, created by Linus Torvalds that was initially designed to run on Intel-powered PCs. It is free, open-source software distributed under the terms of the GNU General Public License (GPL). The fundamental component of any operating system is the kernel. Various individuals, groups, and companies create their versions of the operating system (called distributions) by adding utilities and other programs to the kernel. Linux is now available for Apple computers, Alpha workstations, and additional platforms. The development of GUI desktop environments for Linux, such as GNOME and KDE, led some to predict rising use in the end-user market. See BSD, Free Software Foundation (FSF), General Public License (GPL), GNOME, KDE, Samba, Unix.