Exclusive | Article Index |
|---|
| What Is Linux: An Overview of the Linux Operating System |
| The Future of Linux |
| The Birth of Linux |
| The Code |
| Licensing, Community, and Development |
| The Business of Linux |
| All Pages |
Licensing
Code is contributed to the Linux kernel under a number of licenses, but all code must be compatible with version 2 of the GNU General Public License (GPLv2), which is the license covering the kernel distribution as a whole. In practice, that means that all code contributions are covered either by GPLv2 (with, optionally, language allowing distribution under later versions of the GPL) or the three-clause BSD license. Any contributions which are not covered by a compatible license will not be accepted into the kernel.
Copyright assignments are not required (or requested) for code contributed to the kernel. All code merged into the mainline kernel retains its original ownership; as a result, the kernel now has thousands of owners.
One implication of this ownership structure is that any attempt to change the licensing of the kernel is doomed to almost certain failure. There are few practical scenarios where the agreement of all copyright holders could be obtained (or their code removed from the kernel). So, in particular, there is no prospect of a migration to version 3 of the GPL in the foreseeable future.
It is imperative that all code contributed to the kernel be legitimately free software. For that reason, code from anonymous (or pseudonymous) contributors will not be accepted. All contributors are required to "sign off" on their code, stating that the code can be distributed with the kernel under the GPL. Code which has not been licensed as free software by its owner, or which risks creating copyright-related problems for the kernel (such as code which derives from reverse-engineering efforts lacking proper safeguards) cannot be contributed.
Questions about copyright-related issues are common on Linux development mailing lists. Such questions will normally receive no shortage of answers, but one should bear in mind that the people answering those questions are not lawyers and cannot provide legal advice. If you have legal questions relating to Linux source code, there is no substitute for talking with a lawyer who understands this field. Relying on answers obtained on technical mailing lists is a risky affair.
Community
Linux communities come in two basic forms: developer and user communities.
One of the most compelling features of Linux is that it is accessible to developers; anybody with the requisite skills can improve Linux and influence the direction of its development. Proprietary products cannot offer this kind of openness, which is a characteristic of the free software process.
Developer communities can volunteer to maintain and support whole distributions, such as the Debian or Gentoo Projects. Novell and Red hat also support community-driven versions of their products, openSUSE and Fedora, respectively. The improvements to these community distros are then incorporated into the commercial server and desktop products from these companies.
The Linux kernel itself is primarily supported by its developer community as well and is one of the largest and most active free software projects in existence. A typical three-month kernel development cycle can involve over 1000 developers working for more than 100 different companies (or for no company at all).
With the growth of Linux has come an increase in the number of developers (and companies) wishing to participate in its development. Hardware vendors want to ensure that Linux supports their products well, making those products attractive to Linux users. Embedded systems vendors, who use Linux as a component in an integrated product, want Linux to be as capable and well-suited to the task at hand as possible. Distributors and other software vendors who base their products on Linux have a clear interest in the capabilities, performance, and reliability of the Linux kernel.
Other developer communities focus on different applications and environments that run on Linux, such as Firefox, OpenOffice.org, GNOME, and KDE.
End users, too, can make valuable contributions to the development of Linux. With online communities such as Linux.com, LinuxQuestions, and the many and varied communities hosted by distributions and applications, the Linux user base is an often vocal, usually positive advocate and guide for the Linux operating system.
The Linux community is not just a presence online. Local groups known as Linux Users Groups (LUGs) often meet to discuss issues regarding the Linux operating system, and provide other local users with free demonstrations, training, technical support, and installfests.
Development
Linux is an operating system that is comprised of many different development languages. A very large percentage of the distributions' code is written in either the C (52.86%) or C++ (25.56%) languages. All of the rest of the code falls into single-digit percentages, with Java, Perl, and Lisp rounding out the rest of the top 5 languages.
The Linux kernel itself has an even more dominant C presence, with over 95 percent of the kernel's code written in that language. But other languages make up the kernel as well, making it more heterogenous than other operating systems.
The kernel community has evolved its own distinct ways of operating which allow it to function smoothly (and produce a high-quality product) in an environment where thousands of lines of code are being changed every day. This means the Linux kernel development process differs greatly from proprietary development methods.
The kernel's development process may come across as strange and intimidating to new developers, but there are good reasons and solid experience behind it. A developer who does not understand the kernel community's ways (or, worse, who tries to flout or circumvent them) will have a frustrating experience in store. The development community, while being helpful to those who are trying to learn, has little time for those who will not listen or who do not care about the development process.
While many Linux developers still use text-based tools such as Emacs or Vim to develop their code, Eclipse, Anjuta, and Netbeans all provide more robust integrated development environments for Linux.
Comments
Subscribe to Comments Feedphanikumar Said:
it is a nice matter
zoya Said:
really it helped me a lot
RAJU.R.K Said:
dis is a very important to made up use the people and hence i think its a superb operating system of a computer........ Thank u......
sujit Said:
what cloud computing?
AlagZ Said:
Cloud computing is nothing but storing the data in a central pool where multiple users can store and retrieve their data through the internet. This system is useful to store confidential data and also to reduce the space used in the personal system .
Abhishek Said:
Hi I am confused for totaly for linux. and what is future of linux
choji F.D. Said:
Wow! linux. What an amazing OS!
rohit soni Said:
Chutiya hai........
surya Said:
how to operate it?
chris adkins Said:
ask lil b, lil b is all knowing and is based as fuck and knows the based god, ask him...
KOBI Said:
LINUX IS GOOD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Roberto Pizano Said:
Linux may be good but, is not so easy to understand at the beginning, be honest is not a piece of cake.
Junior. Ombi Said:
I want to know the procedures to install ,Configure and Use it
Alve Said:
How can i get Linux operating system
jayant Said:
tooooooooo short.................
HARSHALA Said:
hmmm.........gud ya
ammrin Said:
cloud computing doesn't relate to the content published above but fr the sake of knowledge , it is a service provided 2 u through internet based on pay as u go paradigm
Don 1 Said:
Hmmmm dis people wll kill as wth their Technology oo
b Said:
yes interesting
Zoix Said:
Zoix: It is nice that you include examples on where to use Linux OS.
johnny Said:
Will have to try this Linux out, sounds like you have more control of your device or PC, maybe I could get to enjoy PCs again, so fed up with that other system.
deenachandra kshetri Said:
ITZ 2 SHOT.................. I WAN MORE DETAILS
pamodya Said:
good
supun sudarsha batuwaththa Said:
boruwadA GANDA APA
ali raza Said:
it is general os
me Said:
"In THE simplest terms" it is an operating system kernel, the most important component of an OS. But it isn't a whole operating system yet.
amit Said:
Its a nice operating system to work on....
HITESH BANASURE Said:
Excellent pltform for network......
Darshan Ram Said:
The problem with linux is they have too many version unlike windows.They also need to brighten up by advertising or something.Create something that windows or mac doesnt have and for sure it will be a sucess.
aditi singh Said:
whats the difference between linux and unix..?
Bazza Said:
Is Linux an operating system? I thought it is the KERNEL.
Aizenmyou Said:
@Bazza Stallman likes to confuse people. Linux is by definition the operating system layer. GNU's programs are the userland or application layer.
Jimmy Said:
Differencies between linux and unix
andraexs Said:
live freedom with linux.. i love it
mani Said:
gud1
Deepak Bawa Said:
Ubuntu E-mail this Term A community-developed Linux-based operating system that can be used on desktops, laptops and servers. The operating system includes a variety of applications including those for word processing, e-mail applications, Web server software and also programming tools. Ubuntu is free of charge, including enterprise releases and security updates. It also comes with full commercial support from Canonical. Ubuntu is available in both a desktop and server edition. here's the link http://thepiratebay.se/torrent/7739177/
hitesh vora Said:
thek have....maja no aavi.....
Akanksha Kalla Said:
I found some more relevant questions with their appropriate answers on linux. http://blog.oureducation.in/linux-os/ this site is really helpful. I suggest you all to just check this site once.
lori38 Said:
First of all I have a Samsung Tablet 8.1 and alot of applications that I'd like to download just wont happen. I click on the "download" button, but when I go to open the app./file it tells me "cannot open file". My first question is WHY? Why will it not open, cause i know it downloaded cause when I go into my account before the download it shows me my data usage and after the download is complete I recheck my data usage and its exactly the amount of the app. more. Second ques. I went to download a tool bar from swagbucks and at the top of the page it says "wont work on Linux". What does this mean? I've tried downoading toolbars when I first got my tablet but they just never took. I never could figure out why. Maybe someone out there can help me with my dilema. Plz and Tk U.
abzgal'z Said:
I want more about LINUX for my report. about their capacity, and how many application can apply or install... thank you!
Ratiranjan nayak Said:
LInux is very good . I like linux very much............ I want to know much more about u.......................
sonu Said:
linux is very good
LEIGH BARTON Said:
LINUX is what an operating system is supposed to be, bootable from a live operating system disk, easily installed, the newer versions have graphical user interfaces that make them manageable for unaccustomed users like me, that were taught on basic dos systems. The inclusion of the technically minded in the development approach may hopefully lead to the standardization of operating system function to permit normal people the opportunity to improve the potential of their own computers, and by extension the capability of personal computers in general, unlike Windows, which seems bent on making it impossible for even the best technicians to keep the boat-anchors from sinking. I've already used the live operating system disk to repair failed windows systems for people that would otherwise not have been able to afford the necessary technical support. Windows keeps failing more frequently, and getting progressively more expensive to service. LINUX seems to be the TIMEX of operating systems, ("takes a licking and keeps on ticking") and seems to be the next step in the chain if people like me are going to be able to keep using computers without a million dollar bankroll. It's a premium technical asset, and it seems a lot of catching-up is on my own plate in order to learn how to use it properly. To the creators of LINUX, well done, that's one small step for man, and one giant leap for mankind. compliments.
granpa Said:
Dear leight, will you be so kind and explaine ,,I have OS windows 7 can i dowloded OS. Linux and whot I can got? Thanks. Trgards.Andrew
TechTr Said:
Since when linux is a OS? even though this is for newbies but you should not mislead people. Linux is only the kernel, the other things which makes up the OS is not linux!
durjan rathore barmer Said:
explain the concept of linux its components ?
haddey.hms Said:
oh my god am totally confused..,1 wat z the purposes of linux
Aizenmyou Said:
As I said above, Stallman likes to confuse people. Linux is by definition the operating system layer. GNU's programs are the userland or application layer. Anyone who is not a newb knows this. (People with actual computer science degrees)
Spanzy Said:
I am kinda confused down here
fast1 Said:
Linux is great...I've just bought a 10inch tablet running Linux. 64bit. SW