Free and Open Source Software in K - 12 Education
What is Linux?
Linux (pronounced “linnuks”) is a computer operating system like Microsoft Windows® or the Apple Mac OS®. Linux is most widely known among corporate computer users because of its quality, reliability, and price. Linux has matured to the point where it is now the preferred platform for most of the world's more robust and critical computer systems.
In 1991, Linus Torvalds, a student at the University of Helsinki in Finland, started to write the kernel for a computer operating system. By releasing early versions of his software under a “free” or “open” license, Torvalds provided an exciting environment for other programmers to work together to improve his software, which became the foundation of what is generally known as the Linux operating system.
Because Linux can be modified, it is available in several versions (or distributions), some of which offer commercial support. You may have heard of Fedora Core, Red Hat, SuSE, Novell, Ubuntu, Knoppix, or many others.
Last updated by Steve Hargadon Nov. 25, 2008.
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