【嵌入式】I. BACKGROUND ON LINUX.doc

I. BACKGROUND ON LINUX Linux is a version of UNIX operating system, the original ancestor of Linux. UNIX is a command-driven operating system in which the user has to type in commands at the computer console in order to operate the computer (“Introduction to Linux, 2001). UNIX is one of the most popular operating systems worldwide because of its large support base and distribution (Grove, 1998, section 1.2 ). It was originally developed in the 1970’s at ATT as a multitasking system for minicomputers and mainframes. Since then, it has grown to become one of the most widely-used operating systems. In 1991, Linus Torvalds, a student at the University of Helsinki, sought to create a new version of UNIX; therefore, he joined forces with a group of programmers to create a new operating system—Linux. Linux is a free version of UNIX that continues to be developed by the cooperative efforts of volunteer groups of programmers, primarily on the Internet, who exchange code, report bug, and fix problems in an open-ended environment (Grove, 1998, section 1.2 ). As a result, the world now has a powerful, robust, and full-featured operating system that continues to change and grow. Linux is known as an open source operating system and also called free software because everything about Linux is accessible to the public and is freely available to anyone. Since the Linux source code is available, anyone can copy, modify, and distribute this software. This allows for various companies such as SuSE, Red Hat, Caldera and others to sell and distribute Linux; however, at the same time, these companies must keep their Linux distribution code open for public inspection, comment, and changes (LeBlanc, Hoag Blomquist, 2001, p. 298). Despite of the command-line origins of Linux, these distributing companies are working to make the Graphical User Interface (GUI), the primary means of user interface; thus more user friendly. Overall, Linux is not just a simple operating system