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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, many of which are provided by the GNU Project.

Linux was originally developed for personal computers based on the Intel x86 architecture, but has since been ported to more platforms than any other operating system. Because of the dominance of Linux-based Android on smartphones, Linux, including Android, has the largest installed base of all general-purpose operating systems as of May 2022. Linux is, as of March 2024, used by around 4 percent of desktop computers. The Chromebook, which runs the Linux kernel-based ChromeOS, dominates the US K–12 education market and represents nearly 20 percent of sub-$300 notebook sales in the US. Linux is the leading operating system on servers (over 96.4% of the top one million web servers' operating systems are Linux), leads other big iron systems such as mainframe computers, and is used on all of the world's 500 fastest supercomputers (as of November 2017, having gradually displaced all competitors).

Linux also runs on embedded systems, i.e., devices whose operating system is typically built into the firmware and is highly tailored to the system. This includes routers, automation controls, smart home devices, video game consoles, televisions (Samsung and LG smart TVs), automobiles (Tesla, Audi, Mercedes-Benz, Hyundai, and Toyota), and spacecraft (Falcon 9 rocket, Dragon crew capsule, and the Ingenuity Mars helicopter). (Full article...)

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  • Image 1 Tux, mascot of the Linux Kernel The GNU/Linux naming controversy is a controversy regarding whether computer operating systems that use GNU software and the Linux kernel should be referred to as "GNU/Linux" or "Linux" systems. Proponents of the term Linux argue that it is far more commonly used by the public and media and that it serves as a generic term for systems that combine that kernel with software from multiple other sources, while proponents of the term GNU/Linux note that GNU alone would be just as good a name for GNU variants which combine the GNU operating system software with software from other sources. (Full article...)

    Tux, mascot of the Linux Kernel

    The GNU/Linux naming controversy is a controversy regarding whether computer operating systems that use GNU software and the Linux kernel should be referred to as "GNU/Linux" or "Linux" systems.

    Proponents of the term Linux argue that it is far more commonly used by the public and media and that it serves as a generic term for systems that combine that kernel with software from multiple other sources, while proponents of the term GNU/Linux note that GNU alone would be just as good a name for GNU variants which combine the GNU operating system software with software from other sources. (Full article...)
  • Image 2 An example of LSB output in a terminal (Debian version 11) The Linux Standard Base (LSB) was a joint project by several Linux distributions under the organizational structure of the Linux Foundation to standardize the software system structure, including the Filesystem Hierarchy Standard. LSB was based on the POSIX specification, the Single UNIX Specification (SUS), and several other open standards, but extended them in certain areas. According to LSB: The goal of the LSB is to develop and promote a set of open standards that will increase compatibility among Linux distributions and enable software applications to run on any compliant system even in binary form. In addition, the LSB will help coordinate efforts to recruit software vendors to port and write products for Linux Operating Systems. (Full article...)
    An example of LSB output in a terminal (Debian version 11)

    The Linux Standard Base (LSB) was a joint project by several Linux distributions under the organizational structure of the Linux Foundation to standardize the software system structure, including the Filesystem Hierarchy Standard. LSB was based on the POSIX specification, the Single UNIX Specification (SUS), and several other open standards, but extended them in certain areas.

    According to LSB:


    The goal of the LSB is to develop and promote a set of open standards that will increase compatibility among Linux distributions and enable software applications to run on any compliant system even in binary form. In addition, the LSB will help coordinate efforts to recruit software vendors to port and write products for Linux Operating Systems.

    (Full article...)
  • Image 3 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 4 Smack (full name: Simplified Mandatory Access Control Kernel) is a Linux kernel security module that protects data and process interaction from malicious manipulation using a set of custom mandatory access control (MAC) rules, with simplicity as its main design goal. It has been officially merged since the Linux 2.6.25 release, it was the main access control mechanism for the MeeGo mobile Operating System. It is also used to sandbox HTML5 web applications in the Tizen architecture, in the commercial Wind River Linux solutions for embedded device development, in Philips Digital TV products., and in Intel's Ostro OS for IoT devices. Since 2016, Smack is required in all Automotive Grade Linux (AGL) implementations where it provides in association with other Linux facilities the base for the AGL security framework. (Full article...)

    Smack (full name: Simplified Mandatory Access Control Kernel) is a Linux kernel security module that protects data and process interaction from malicious manipulation using a set of custom mandatory access control (MAC) rules, with simplicity as its main design goal. It has been officially merged since the Linux 2.6.25 release, it was the main access control mechanism for the MeeGo mobile Operating System. It is also used to sandbox HTML5 web applications in the Tizen architecture, in the commercial Wind River Linux solutions for embedded device development, in Philips Digital TV products., and in Intel's Ostro OS for IoT devices.

    Since 2016, Smack is required in all Automotive Grade Linux (AGL) implementations where it provides in association with other Linux facilities the base for the AGL security framework. (Full article...)
  • Image 5 SUSE Linux Enterprise (SLE) is a Linux-based operating system developed by SUSE. It is available in two editions, suffixed with Server (SLES) for servers and mainframes, and Desktop (SLED) for workstations and desktop computers. Its major versions are released at an interval of three–four years, while minor versions (called "Service Packs") are released about every 12 months. SUSE Linux Enterprise products receive more intense testing than the upstream openSUSE community product, with the intention that only mature, stable versions of the included components will make it through to the released enterprise product. It is developed from a common code base with other SUSE Linux Enterprise products. (Full article...)
    SUSE Linux Enterprise (SLE) is a Linux-based operating system developed by SUSE. It is available in two editions, suffixed with Server (SLES) for servers and mainframes, and Desktop (SLED) for workstations and desktop computers.

    Its major versions are released at an interval of three–four years, while minor versions (called "Service Packs") are released about every 12 months. SUSE Linux Enterprise products receive more intense testing than the upstream openSUSE community product, with the intention that only mature, stable versions of the included components will make it through to the released enterprise product. It is developed from a common code base with other SUSE Linux Enterprise products. (Full article...)
  • Image 6 Arch Linux with KDE Arch Linux (/ɑːrtʃ/) is an independently developed x86-64 general-purpose Linux distribution that strives to provide the latest stable versions of most software by following a rolling-release model. The default installation is intentionally minimal so that users can add only the packages they require. pacman, a package manager written specifically for Arch Linux, is used to install, remove and update software packages. (Full article...)

    Arch Linux with KDE

    Arch Linux (/ɑːrtʃ/) is an independently developed x86-64 general-purpose Linux distribution that strives to provide the latest stable versions of most software by following a rolling-release model. The default installation is intentionally minimal so that users can add only the packages they require.

    pacman, a package manager written specifically for Arch Linux, is used to install, remove and update software packages. (Full article...)
  • Image 7 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 8 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 9 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 10 Mandriva Linux 2011 Mandriva Linux (a fusion of the French distribution Mandrake Linux and the Brazilian distribution Conectiva Linux) is a discontinued Linux distribution developed by Mandriva S.A. Each release lifetime was 18 months for base updates (Linux, system software, etc.) and 12 months for desktop updates (window managers, desktop environments, web browsers, etc.). Server products received full updates for at least five years after their release. (Full article...)

    Mandriva Linux 2011

    Mandriva Linux (a fusion of the French distribution Mandrake Linux and the Brazilian distribution Conectiva Linux) is a discontinued Linux distribution developed by Mandriva S.A.

    Each release lifetime was 18 months for base updates (Linux, system software, etc.) and 12 months for desktop updates (window managers, desktop environments, web browsers, etc.). Server products received full updates for at least five years after their release. (Full article...)
  • Image 11 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 12 This article documents the version history of the Linux kernel. Each major version – identified by the first two numbers of a release version – is designated one of the following levels of support: (Full article...)
    This article documents the version history of the Linux kernel.

    Each major version – identified by the first two numbers of a release version – is designated one of the following levels of support: (Full article...)
  • Image 13 Deepin 20.1 desktop, with the Qt-based Deepin Desktop Environment Deepin (Chinese: 深度操作系统; pinyin: Shēndù Cāozuò-xìtǒng; stylized as deepin; formerly known as Linux Deepin and Hiweed Linux) is a Linux distribution. It features the Deepin Desktop Environment (DDE), built on Qt and available for a variety of distributions. The Deepin userbase is predominantly Chinese, though DDE is in most prominent Linux distributions' repositories as an alternative desktop environment. The company behind the development, Deepin Technology, a wholly owned subsidiary of UnionTech (统信软件), is based in Wuhan, China. (Full article...)

    Deepin 20.1 desktop, with the Qt-based Deepin Desktop Environment

    Deepin (Chinese: 深度操作系统; pinyin: Shēndù Cāozuò-xìtǒng; stylized as deepin; formerly known as Linux Deepin and Hiweed Linux) is a Linux distribution. It features the Deepin Desktop Environment (DDE), built on Qt and available for a variety of distributions. The Deepin userbase is predominantly Chinese, though DDE is in most prominent Linux distributions' repositories as an alternative desktop environment. The company behind the development, Deepin Technology, a wholly owned subsidiary of UnionTech (统信软件), is based in Wuhan, China. (Full article...)
  • Image 14 In a series of legal disputes between SCO Group and Linux vendors and users, SCO alleged that its license agreements with IBM meant that source code IBM wrote and donated to be incorporated into Linux was added in violation of SCO's contractual rights. Members of the Linux community disagreed with SCO's claims; IBM, Novell, and Red Hat filed claims against SCO. On August 10, 2007, a federal district court judge in SCO v. Novell ruled on summary judgment that Novell, not the SCO Group, was the rightful owner of the copyrights covering the Unix operating system. The court also ruled that "SCO is obligated to recognize Novell's waiver of SCO's claims against IBM and Sequent". After the ruling, Novell announced they had no interest in suing people over Unix and stated "We don't believe there is Unix in Linux". The final district court ruling, on November 20, 2008, affirmed the summary judgment, and added interest payments and a constructive trust. (Full article...)
    In a series of legal disputes between SCO Group and Linux vendors and users, SCO alleged that its license agreements with IBM meant that source code IBM wrote and donated to be incorporated into Linux was added in violation of SCO's contractual rights. Members of the Linux community disagreed with SCO's claims; IBM, Novell, and Red Hat filed claims against SCO.

    On August 10, 2007, a federal district court judge in SCO v. Novell ruled on summary judgment that Novell, not the SCO Group, was the rightful owner of the copyrights covering the Unix operating system. The court also ruled that "SCO is obligated to recognize Novell's waiver of SCO's claims against IBM and Sequent". After the ruling, Novell announced they had no interest in suing people over Unix and stated "We don't believe there is Unix in Linux". The final district court ruling, on November 20, 2008, affirmed the summary judgment, and added interest payments and a constructive trust. (Full article...)
  • Image 15 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...)
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Fedora Linux 35

Fedora Linux 35, the 35th Fedora Linux distribution release.

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The following are images from various Linux-related articles on Wikipedia.
  • Image 1Debian 6 (Squeeze), 2011 (from Debian)
    Debian 6 (Squeeze), 2011 (from Debian)
  • Image 2A Debian 10 Buster box cover (from Debian)
    A Debian 10 Buster box cover (from Debian)
  • Image 3The 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 4Four 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 5Fedora 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 6At 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 7Eucalyptus interface (from Ubuntu)
    Eucalyptus interface (from Ubuntu)
  • Image 8Linus Torvalds at the LinuxCon Europe 2014 in Düsseldorf (from Linux kernel)
    Linus Torvalds at the LinuxCon Europe 2014 in Düsseldorf (from Linux kernel)
  • Image 9Ubuntu family tree[dubious – discuss] (from Ubuntu)
    Ubuntu family tree[dubious – discuss] (from Ubuntu)
  • Image 10Xfce is default on CD images and non-Linux ports. (from Debian)
    Xfce is default on CD images and non-Linux ports. (from Debian)
  • Image 11Ubuntu - Version History - Visual Timeline - 20231019 (from Ubuntu)
    Ubuntu - Version History - Visual Timeline - 20231019 (from Ubuntu)
  • Image 12Boot 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)
  • Image 13Logo of Debian GNU/kFreeBSD (from Debian)
    Logo of Debian GNU/kFreeBSD (from Debian)
  • Image 14Fedora 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 15Fedora Workstation 35 installation summary (from Fedora Linux)
    Fedora Workstation 35 installation summary (from Fedora Linux)
  • Image 16HP 9000 C110 PA-RISC workstation booting Debian Lenny (from Debian)
    HP 9000 C110 PA-RISC workstation booting Debian Lenny (from Debian)
  • (from Ubuntu)
    Cloud Ubuntu Orange Box
  • Image 18Iceweasel logo (from Debian)
    Iceweasel logo (from Debian)
  • The Linux Storage Stack Diagram (from Linux kernel)
  • Image 20Screenshot of GDebi Package installer (from Debian)
    Screenshot of GDebi Package installer (from Debian)
  • Image 21TiVo DVR, a consumer device running Linux (from Linux kernel)
    TiVo DVR, a consumer device running Linux (from Linux kernel)
  • Image 22Debian GNU/Hurd running on Xfce (from Debian)
    Debian GNU/Hurd running on Xfce (from Debian)
  • Image 23Sankey diagram of Linux Kernel Source Lines of Code (from Linux kernel)
    Sankey diagram of Linux Kernel Source Lines of Code (from Linux kernel)
  • Image 24Linux kernel panic output (from Linux kernel)
    Linux kernel panic output (from Linux kernel)
  • Image 25Text version of the Debian Installer (from Debian)
    Text version of the Debian Installer (from Debian)
  • Image 26Fedora 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 27Using Aptitude to view Debian package details (from Debian)
    Using Aptitude to view Debian package details (from Debian)
  • Deepin-logo
    Deepin logo (from Ubuntu)
  • Image 29The 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 30The core values of the Fedora community (from Fedora Linux)
    The core values of the Fedora community (from Fedora Linux)
  • Image 31Logo of GNU Hurd (from Debian)
    Logo of GNU Hurd (from Debian)
  • Image 32Graphical version of the Debian Installer (from Debian)
    Graphical version of the Debian Installer (from Debian)
  • Image 33Package installed with Aptitude (from Debian)
    Package installed with Aptitude (from Debian)
  • Image 34Redevelopment costs of Linux kernel (from Linux kernel)
    Redevelopment costs of Linux kernel (from Linux kernel)
  • Image 35An iPod booting iPodLinux (from Linux kernel)
    An iPod booting iPodLinux (from Linux kernel)
  • Image 36Debian 4 (Etch), 2007 (from Debian)
    Debian 4 (Etch), 2007 (from Debian)
  • Image 37Fedora 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 38Map of the Linux kernel (from Linux kernel)
    Map of the Linux kernel (from Linux kernel)
  • Image 39Debian 10 console login and welcome message (from Debian)
    Debian 10 console login and welcome message (from Debian)
  • Image 40Debian 10 installation menu (BIOS Mode) (from Debian)
    Debian 10 installation menu (BIOS Mode) (from Debian)
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