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.