Linux

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Definition

“Linux (IPA pronunciation: /\u02c8l\u026an\u028aks/) is a Unix-like computer operating system family. Linux is one of the most prominent examples of free software and of open source development; its underlying source code is available for anyone to use, modify, and redistribute freely” ([1], retrieved 17:06, 2 April 2007 (MEST))

Distributions

The following list is copy/paste from the Linux distribution article on Wikipedia (15:45, 3 September 2012 (CEST)), with links pointing to Wikipedia articles

Well-known Linux distributions include:

  • Arch_Linux, a minimalist rolling release distribution targeted at experienced Linux users, maintained by a volunteer community and primarily based on binary packages in the tar.gz and tar.xz format.
  • Debian, a non-commercial distribution maintained by a volunteer developer community with a strong commitment to free software principles
    • Knoppix, the first Live CD distribution to run completely from removable media without installation to a hard disk, derived from Debian
    • Mint Debian Edition (LMDE) is based directly on testing distribution.
    • Ubuntu, a popular desktop and server distribution derived from Debian, maintained by British company Ltd.
      • Backtrack, based on the system) Ubuntu operating system. Used for digital forensics and penetration testing.
      • Kubuntu, the KDE version of Ubuntu.
      • Mint, a distribution based on and compatible with Ubuntu. Currently using Gnome 3 shell, "Cinnamon", or optionally Gnome 2 fork, MATE.
      • Xubuntu is the Xfce version of Ubuntu.
      • Lubuntu, the LXDE version of Ubuntu, is advertised as a lightweight distribution.
  • Fedora, a community distribution sponsored by American company Red Hat
    • Red Hat Enterprise Linux, which is a derivative of Fedora, maintained and commercially supported by Red Hat.
      • CentOS, a distribution derived from the same sources used by Hat, maintained by a dedicated volunteer community of developers with both 100% Red Hat-compatible versions and an upgraded version that is not always 100% upstream compatible
      • Oracle Enterprise Linux, which is a derivative of Red Hat Enterprise Linux, maintained and commercially supported by Oracle.
    • Mandriva, a Red Hat derivative popular in several European countries and Brazil, today maintained by the French company of the same name.
      • PCLinuxOS, a derivative of Mandriva, grew from a group of packages into a community-spawned desktop distribution.
  • Gentoo, a distribution targeted at power users, known for its FreeBSD Ports-like automated system for compiling applications from source code
  • openSUSE a community distribution mainly sponsored by American company Novell.
  • Slackware, one of the first Linux distributions, founded in 1993, and since then actively maintained by J. Volkerding|Patrick J. Volkerdin.
  • Damn Small Linux, "DSL" is a Biz-card Desktop OS

DistroWatch attempts to include every known distribution of Linux, whether currently active or not; it also maintains a ranking of distributions based on page views, as a measure of relative popularity.

Linux related information in this wiki

(not much)

Links