Linux is a UNIX-like operating system. However, Linux cant really be called UNIX because it hasnt been registered to AT&T, the owner of the name of UNIX. The name Linux is after the name of its author, Linus Torvalds. He was a student of University of Helsinki in Finland. Linus modified one of the UNIX's versions, Minix. In September 1991, he finished his first version of Linux, which was Linux version 0.01. He broadcasted it on the net. In 1992, Linux has already reached version 0.12, which has had a simple shell and C compiler. After that Linux development was very fast because many programmers from all around the world participated in its development. They exchange and broadcast their modified code through the Internet. Many tools were added into Linux operating system such as support for sound cards, CD-ROM drivers, video cards, mouse, network cards, scanners, and so on. But that doesnt mean that the development of this particular operating system has stopped. Still there are many developers of Linux adding more and more functions into it. .
Linux is free. Users dont have to pay for anything because Linux has been licensed under the Free Software Foundation's General Public License. It also means that users can modify the Linux as they wish by adding useful features into it. Linux was actually developed for home-users. Users can simply download it from the Internet. The address is http://sunsite.unc.edu/pub/Linux/. Some additional software can be downloaded from the Internet too (http://www.xnet.com/~blatura/linapps.shtml). .
When users get Linux, they have got:.
" Development software including compilers, assemblers and debuggers.
" Text editors and text formatting programs.
" Usenet news readers and e-mail agents.
" World Wide Web development tools, web servers and browsers.
" Graphics creation and manipulation tools.
Linux can be installed on 32-bit x86 based systems, such as 386, 486. It is also compatible with Pentium, Pentium MMX, Pentium Pro and Pentium II systems.