Linux Operating System

1. Introduction
2. Linux operating
   system
3. Proprietary
   software
4. Free software
6. Linux
   advanteges
7. Conclusion
8. Bibliography

INTRODUCTION

Linux is one of the most popular and productive
operating systems in the world. Its acceptance is product of the
high and potential capacity that Linux offers to
many different fields of work.

Linux does not give only one version of the program, but
a lot of different versions so that people can decide
what’s best for their particular needs.

Even though Linux has not reached the market share of
Microsoft
Windows, yet
Linux is and will continue being popular and used by a lot of
people around the world. There are specific fields where Linux is
leader and any other operating system has the same percentage of
users right now. For example, web servers
market is dominated by Linux.

This study will give an important and clear overview
about Linux operating system and it will help to know better this
powerful software that is free and
can be enjoyed and used by anybody.

1.
LINUX OPERATING SYSTEM

Tux, the Linux penguin

Linux is an operative system that is a typical example
of free software and open source development. The source code of
Linux is available for anyone to use, modify, and redistribute
freely.

The many Linux distributions differ for various reasons
including technical, organizational, and philosophical. Technical
variations include support for different hardware devices and systems
or software package configurations. Organizational differences
may be motivated by historical reasons. Philosophical differences
may include what software is considered easier to use. Other
criteria include security, including how quickly security
upgrades are available; ease of package management;
etc.

2.
PROPRIETARY SOFTWARE

Proprietary software means that it has restrictions on
using, copying and modifying as enforced by the proprietor.
Restrictions on use, modification and copying are achieved by
either legal or technical means and sometimes both. Technical
means include withholding the human-readable source code. Legal
means can involve software licensing, copyright, and patent law.
Proponents of proprietary software, like Microsoft, argue that
innovation is driven more quickly when it is lucrative. They
claim that the best way to ensure this motivation is to tie
revenue to innovation. Proprietary software is said to create
greater commercial activity over free software, especially in
regard to market revenues.

One of the risks of proprietary software is that if the
proprietor gets to work in a monopoly with his product, it would
easily make the software more expensive.

Well known examples of proprietary software include
Microsoft Windows, RealPlayer, Adobe Photoshop,
WinZip,
etc.

3.
FREE SOFTWARE

Free software can be used, copied, studied, modified and
redistributed with little or no restriction beyond the
requirement that source code must be made available. Freedom from
such restrictions is central to the concept.

The usual way for software to be distributed as free
software is for the software to be licensed to the recipient with
a free software license (or be in the public domain), and the
source code of the software to be made available (for a compiled
language).

By contrast, "Freeware" is software made available
free of charge, but is generally proprietary, as users do
not necessarily have the freedom to use, copy, study, modify or
redistribute it. Source code for freeware may or may not be
published, and permission to distribute modified versions may or
may not be granted, so freeware is gratis, but not
necessarily libre software. Freeware is copyrighted
computer software which is made available for use free of charge,
for an unlimited time, as opposed to shareware where the user is
required to pay (e.g. after some trial period).

Authors of freeware often want to "give something to the
community", but also want to credit for their software and to
retain control of its
future development. Shareware is a marketing
method for computer software. Shareware software is typically
obtained free of charge, either by downloading from the Internet or on magazine
cover-disks. A user tries out the program, and thus shareware has
also been known as "try before you buy". A shareware program is
accompanied by a request for payment, and the software’s
distribution license often requires such a payment. Free software
should never be confused with freeware nor shareware
software.

"Free software" is a matter of liberty, not
price. To understand the concept, people should think of
"free" as in "free speech" not as in "free
beer." Free software is a matter of the users’ freedom
to run, copy, distribute, study, change and improve the software.
More precisely, it refers to four kinds of freedom, for the users
of the software:

• The freedom to run the program, for any
  purpose.
• The freedom to study how the program works, and
  adapt it to your needs. Access to
  the source code is a precondition for this.
• The freedom to redistribute copies so you can help
  your neighbor.
• The freedom to improve the program, and release
  your improvements to the public, so that the whole community
  benefits. Access to
  the source code is a precondition for this.

A program is free software if users have all of these
freedoms. An excellent and clear example of free software is
Linux operating system.