this post was submitted on 17 Feb 2024
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Linux
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From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Linux 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 in a Linux distribution (or distro for short).
Distributions include the Linux kernel and supporting system software and libraries, many of which are provided by the GNU Project. Many Linux distributions use the word "Linux" in their name, but the Free Software Foundation uses the name GNU/Linux to emphasize the importance of GNU software, causing some controversy.
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This is the best summary I could come up with:
But it hides most of the real Unix directory tree, its /etc is relatively empty, it doesn't have an X server – it's an optional extra.
So taking that list of general characteristics, and adding a less visible one – that it's programmed mainly in C or something C-like – and requiring that the OS looks like Unix and nothing else, meaning there's no other native layer underneath, then the family is bigger.
The original microkernel, CMU Mach, led to a whole bunch of Unix OSes, including the Open Group's OSF/1 and DEC Tru64, as well as MkLinux and famously the GNU HURD.
The only one that isn't a historical curiosity or a tiny neglected niche is Apple's macOS family, including iOS, iPadOS and so on.
QNX is a commercial microkernel Unix-like OS, and it's used in billions of embedded devices … although the only time you might have played with it was Blackberry 10.
A host machine, plus dumb text terminals on serial connections, with no graphics and no networking – even so, high-end kit for the 1970s.
The original article contains 1,892 words, the summary contains 179 words. Saved 91%. I'm a bot and I'm open source!