Unit 1 - Linux Ideas and History

Contents

What is Open Source?

Linux Origins

Red Hat Distributions

Linux principles

Objectivesc

Upon completion of this unit, you should be able to:

Explain the nature of open source software

Discuss the origins of Linux

List the Red Hat operating system distributions

Explain basic Linux principles

What is Open Source?

Open source:Software and source code available to all

The freedom to distribute software and source code

The ability to modify and create derived works

Integrity of author's code

The Free Software Foundation and the Four Freedoms

Linux Origins

1984: The GNU Project and the Free Software Foundation

Creates open source version of UNIX utilities

Creates the General Public License (GPL)

Software license enforcing open source principles

1991: Linus Torvalds

Creates open source, UNIX-like kernel, released under the GPL

Ports some GNU utilities, solicits assistance online

Today:

Linux kernel + GNU utilities = complete, open source, UNIX-like operating system

Packaged for targeted audiences as distributions

Red Hat Distributions

Linux distributions are OSes based on the Linux kernel

Red Hat Enterprise Linux

Stable, thoroughly tested software

Professional support services

Centralized management tools for large networks

The Fedora Project

More, newer applications

Community supported (no official Red Hat support)

For personal systems

Linux principles

Everything is a file (including hardware)

Small, single-purpose programs

Ability to chain programs together to perform complex tasks

Avoid captive user interfaces

Configuration data stored in text