Quite often on the Internet there are disputes about what the Linux operating system should be called. Just the name Linux is enough, or you must definitely use the phrase GNU Linux.
In this article we will try to figure out how to correctly name operating systems with the Linux kernel and a set of software from the GNU project. So, Linux or GNU Linux? Let's find out!
One of the biggest controversies in the open source software community revolves around the naming of the GNU Linux operating system. A large number of distributions have been created using the GNU GPL-licensed Linux kernel, written by Linus Torvalds in 1991, and GNU software created by Richard Stallman and the Free Software Foundation. Because of this, a debate arose whether such an operating system should be called simply Linux or GNU Linux.
In the mid-80s, Richard Stallman began developing free software so that everyone could use it, modify it, and distribute it at their discretion for free. This led to the creation of the Free Software Foundation, which became the main body for the development and distribution of free software. The developers of the Free Software Foundation created all the software needed for the operating system to run properly, now known as GNU software.
For GUI the screen decided to use the X Window System. But there was one problem that slowed down development - the Hurd kernel being developed for this operating system was too unstable. Then the core of Linus Torvalds appeared and took its part in this puzzle. Since then, developers have started using the Linux kernel along with GNU software to create their Linux distributions.
Over the years, the name Linux has been adopted by the masses to refer to such operating systems. The name was passed from mouth to mouth and people did not think that Linux and GNU were different things. This is where the controversy began.
Arguments for GNU Linux
I'm not asking you to call the system Stallmanix.
Richard Stallman
People who want the operating system to be called GNU Linux argue that GNU was a full operating system during development, while the Linux kernel was just a kernel. It has a vital important for GNU to exist only because their own kernel did not meet the required requirements.
“The program in a Unix-like system that allocates the machine's resources and operates on the hardware is called the kernel.” GNU is usually used together with the Linux kernel and this combination is called Linux. GNU Linux is used by millions, but many mistakenly call it Linux.
GNU Project website
Richard Stallman created an FAQ page in part to address this issue. He writes that while they didn't develop the entire operating system, they did develop most of it, and their motivation and vision for free software may have led to the kernel we have today. So GNU should get at least an equal degree of mention in the name.
Stallman notes that in the 1980s, the Free Software Foundation single-handedly raised the ideology of free software development. This term is more like "Free Speech" than "Free Beer". Perhaps this was the motivating element when Linus Torvalds created the kernel. He was partly influenced by a speech Richard Stallman gave in 1990 in Finland. Stallman says it's possible that without this influence Linus Torvalds would have written a Unix-like kernel, but it certainly wouldn't have been free.
Stallman initially proposed that the new operating system should be called LiGNUx. This name contains both GNU and Linux but sounds strange. That's why he later came up with GNU Linux. Some people say Richard Stallman does this for his ego. But Stallman himself denies this. He doesn't ask to name the system Stallmanix.
Another argument for this name is that many people use the GNU system with the Linux kernel and do not know that it is GNU. They think that the system consists only of the Linux kernel.
Arguments for Linux
It doesn't matter what people call Linux as long as they use this operating system. Personally, I'll still call it Linux.
Linus Torvalds
People who prefer to call the operating system simply Linux also took part in the discussion. Their opinions revolve around Richard Stallman being upset that Linus got credit for something he wanted to do.
Another reason for using the name Linux is that there are other software besides GNU, such as display server, Apahce, Nginx, GUI, etc). The Linux operating system uses a lot of software and is GNU more important than other components?
A wheel or engine or seat cannot separate from a functional vehicle and move separately.
Jim Getty (founder of X Window)
Proponents of the Linux name say that an operating system based on the Linux kernel should be called Linux. And similar thinking is reflected in Linus Torvalds' answer.
Well, I think this is justified, but only when you create a GNU Linux distribution. Just like SUSE Linux or Debian Linux, it's great. Because if you create your own distribution, you can call it whatever you want, even "GNU Linux".
There are people who will want to call the system GNU Linux and that's fine. It's no worse than the name Linux Pro, Red Hat Linux or Slackware Linux.
Linus did not initiate discussions about the distribution's naming. But he doesn't like Stallman's idea of calling the system LiGNUx.
I think Linux/GNU or GNU/Linux sounds more professional but I'm not going to think about it.
What has changed now?
There is still no official statement about how to correctly name an operating system that is based on the Linux kernel and GNU project utilities. However, many leading developers began to use the name GNU Linux. For example, Foundation-funded Debian began to be called Debian GNU Linux in 1994. It was followed by several more distributions: BLAG, Dynebolic, Parabola.
But large companies, for example Red Hat Inc, Feodra Project, prefer to call their operating Linux systems. It is still unclear how this will all end. The dispute is dividing two of the world's biggest software developers. What two people can do cannot be done by one.
What do you think is the correct name for this operating system Linux or GNU Linux? Write in the comments!
Some discussions about how to correctly name the Linux operating system are in the film about its creation:
This version The FAQ is a light version of the full FAQ. Everything unnecessary has been removed from this version. Only the most significant moments remain. The main goal was to increase the readability of the text. The version is intended for those who have not completed the full version.
32 reasons why GNU/Linux has no future
Literature:
There is only one conclusion from here. GNU/Linux is alive only because of an ideology and a bunch of fanatics. GNU/Linux can only successfully compete with itself across different distributions.
I'm not suggesting that everyone switch to Minix, simply because it has academic purposes and serves to teach system design, drivers and interfaces. There are other projects anyway inheriting microkernel concepts. The most famous ones include Syllable and Haiku. The first has a hybrid core, the second is something closer to micro. Of course that perfect adherence to microkernel architecture for home operating systems is not advisable, but it is certainly big step forward.
Keywords: Implementation of GNU/Linux, disadvantages of GNU/Linux, advantages of GNU/Linux, disadvantages of GNU/Linux, GNU/Linux vs Windows, GNU/Linux in schools,
Unfortunately, this FAQ is not exhaustive and many topics remain untouched. If you share the author’s position and are ready to sponsor the writing of new articles, please contact admin (at) website
The curiosity inherent in every child makes the baby reach for the keyboard even before he learns to walk. You shouldn’t wait until he grows up and begins to understand the purpose of the Backspace and Enter keys. You can start learning the sharpest techniques for working with a computer at a very early age. For parents who want to get involved in computer education for their child, the first question that arises is: where to start? It is most likely not possible to interest a child with stories about MySQL or a demonstration of a calculator; for this purpose, it is worth preparing the material to be demonstrated in advance, or even better, using a special environment, a convenient shell, which contains the most interesting and useful applications for the baby.
Such a shell could be a Linux distribution aimed at children. On the Internet you can find many similar projects: from simplified “adult” assemblies, which are distinguished by the presence of special software, to distributions in which the main emphasis is on ease of management. As part of this review, we will look at three interesting projects aimed at children of different ages: DoudouLinux for the little ones, Qimo for kids for preschoolers and primary schoolchildren and, finally, Sugar on a Stick for schoolchildren. However, these age limits are very arbitrary.
⇡ Qimo for kids 2.0 - children's Linux based on Ubuntu
- Developer: QuinnCo
- Size: 700 MB
- Russian interface: no
The children's distribution Qimo is built on Ubuntu kernel 10.04. Unfortunately, there is no hope for frequent updates of this operating system for children. The project was made solely by the efforts of enthusiasts, so the very fact of its existence is already good.
A Linux distribution aimed at children is not much different in concept from the “adult” version of the system. The environment that will be available after loading the OS is a set preinstalled programs required for work. However, unlike the regular version of the system, the children's version of the OS has certain requirements. Firstly, the programs collected in the distribution must teach the basic principles of working on a computer. Secondly, they should not be boring for the child - it’s good if they have elements of play.
The developers of the children's distribution kit Qimo for kids tried to follow these rules, and the “stuffing” of the Qimo distribution kit was compiled in such a way as to cover the most important aspects of computer education.
A child’s first impression of a computer is formed after he sees a picture on the monitor screen. The more colorful and clear the picture on the display, the more interesting the first acquaintance will be. That's why appearance Special attention was paid to the OS - the funny interface with a polar bear is somewhat reminiscent of the fairy tale about the little bear Umka, who really wanted to know “what” and “why”.
Qimo for kids is not intended for children of a specific age. Both a three-year-old child and a seven-year-old will be equally interested in communicating with this system. Moreover, if desired, Qimo for kids can “grow up” as the main user gains experience. The system can be upgraded by installing a variety of additional software, which is contained in the large Ubuntu Software Center database.
Qimo, like adult operating systems, has a desktop and a main menu, but the little user does not need to look far for his favorite program. Shortcuts for launching children's applications are collected on a separate panel at the bottom of the screen.
One of a child's favorite activities is to hit the keys of the keyboard. If you show a little patience, this fun can be turned into a very useful exercise for memorizing the alphabet and learning the basics of literacy. The simplest typing utility Mousepad 0.2.16, which is included in the distribution, will help with this. This program is comparable to the Notepad text editor, the main functions of which are to select a font and search for text fragments. Mousepad also has the ability to automatically replace text.
The next application brought to the children's panel is GCompris. It is a large set of educational games aimed at children aged two years and older. Among these games there are, for example, applications that develop memory and observation, in which you need to look for differences in a pair of images. Individual games from the GCompris set will allow your child to explore basic colors. Simple but fun games will teach your child to quickly count, read, and think logically.
All games in this package are divided into groups depending on their purpose, and each group, in turn, can include several sets of themed games. For example, in the group of applications that develop tactics and strategy thinking, you can find both simple tasks - say, to line up several balls in a row, and more complex ones, such as chess tasks: checkmate with the help of two queens, finish the game with the help of a rook and the king or just play chess one on one with the computer. The game, in which you have to walk in a three-dimensional maze, focusing on a “flat” map of the environment, according to the developers of GCompris, will contribute to the development of a child’s spatial imagination.
To appreciate GCompris, you need to watch all the games, and there is no way to do this quickly, because the total number of puzzles and puzzles is in the dozens.
The Childsplay collection of games is largely the same as GCompris. The main difference is that this collection is aimed at younger children. The graphics in these games are larger and brighter, and the tasks are less complex. Although simple, each game has a difficulty level that parents can change. The game will allow the child to remember what sounds animals make, will make his memory work, will give him the opportunity to use his imagination and gain first experience of working with a keyboard and mouse.
Qimo for kids also includes popular educational programs for children, developed under the Tux4Kids brand. The most famous of them is graphics editor Tux Paint, intended for children aged three to twelve years. This program has a colorful interface, and all actions in it are accompanied by sound effects. In addition, while working with Tux Paint, a penguin appears at the bottom of the screen, which observes the child’s actions and tells him what he needs to do. Despite the fact that the graphic editor is aimed at children, the range of available tools is quite wide: these include various brushes (with the ability to add new ones), fun stamps, tools for adding text, and artistic filters. It is important that to save drawings, the child does not need to understand the intricacies of working with files and folders - he is asked to simply click on the save button, and the program sets the name and location of the file itself.
The second program from the Tux4Kids set is the math game TuxMath. The application is designed as an arcade game and allows you to consolidate your knowledge of arithmetic. The essence of TuxMath is very simple - a penguin controls a laser gun that shoots falling numbers and mathematical expressions. To use a weapon, you need to type the correct answer on the keyboard, and you need to have time to do this before the numbers reach the edge of the screen and destroy the penguin settlement. The game has several modes, including arcade, missions and so on. TuxMath can be played alone or with friends.
Finally, TuxTyping is similar program, where in leading role the same penguin Tux performs. However, in this case, children are asked to feed the penguin fish by typing the necessary words on the keyboard. In its settings you can select Russian language.
The laby program is further proof that Qimo for kids covers a fairly wide age range. This utility is nothing less than a simulator for learning programming. The principle of laby is very simple - the screen shows a labyrinth through which an ant runs. Next to the maze, a sequence of commands is displayed that will allow the insect to exit the maze, avoiding obstacles. By playing a sequence of commands, you can see whether the algorithm for “saving” the ant is composed correctly. The user is prompted to enter the missing command himself as he moves on to more high levels The complexity of the labyrinth becomes more and more confusing, and the number of commands that you need to write yourself increases.
⇡ DoudouLinux 2011-01 - easy to manage your computer!
- Developer: Jean-Michel Philippe and others
- Size: 700 MB
- Russian interface: yes
The creators of the DoudouLinux distribution claim that children as young as two years old can use this operating system. In order to make the environment understandable for a child, the developers took into account several basic factors: in order to get started, you do not need to be able to read, select something from drop-down lists, or be able to work with files and folders. In addition, it is very important that the system does not have a desktop from which shortcuts can disappear. There is also no taskbar, and there is no option to minimize applications. All programs can be closed by simply pressing the Esc key. In those programs that are designed for children of senior preschool and primary school age, it is possible to save results, and in most cases you can exit games for kids without responding to requests.
Despite the fact that DoudouLinux was created by a Frenchman, employees of the Institute of Applied Informatics of Tomsk State Pedagogical University are currently actively involved in its development. Thanks to this, the distribution has been translated into Russian, and many applications are equipped with voice prompts.
In total, DoudouLinux has about fifty applications (mostly gaming ones), which are designed for children under nine years old. However, such means as text editor and browser, can also be used by adults, in particular older people, for whom working in a conventional operating system seems too difficult.
Based on Debian, this children's distribution includes the popular collections of gaming applications Childsplay and GCompris, mouse training programs Pysycache and Gamine, and the children's graphics editor Tuxpaint. You can launch all this directly from the main menu of DoudouLinux, so even a three-year-old child will be able to choose his favorite game himself.
For older children and their parents, the “All DoudouLinux” mode is provided, when you go to it you can see all available applications grouped into categories (“Tutorials”, “Activities”, “Games” and so on), as well as access the operating system settings systems.
The first thing a child must learn to feel comfortable with a computer is how to operate a mouse. For the little ones, the Gamine program is suitable, which will simply help the child understand that by moving the mouse, he can control the movement of the cursor on the screen. In this program, the cursor is turned into a multi-colored brush, and by moving the mouse, the child draws on the screen. A set of Pysycache applications will help you further master the mouse. It has tasks such as collecting items double click along them, moving animals around the screen by clicking the right and left buttons, opening a hidden picture, composing simple puzzles by dragging parts to the desired place, moving the camera across the screen and “taking photographs” by clicking the mouse in the desired place on the screen.
Some games aimed at helping you master the mouse and keyboard can also be found in the GCompris application suite, which is also included in the Qimo for kids distribution discussed above. In total there are more than a hundred different exercises, from the simplest ones - for kids - to teaching reading, mathematics, physics and geography. For example, a child can be asked to model electrical diagram, configure water system, guide the ship through the lock. It is very important that DoudouLinux users are offered not only the English, but also the Russian version of GCompris. Of course, in exercises for children, the language version does not matter, but in programs for teaching reading, the presence of the Russian language is very important.
Like Qimo for kids, this distribution includes a set of Childsplay gaming applications. True, DoudouLinux uses old version project, dating back to 2006, which is no longer supported. It has worse graphics than current version, and the set of games is smaller, so let's hope that this package will be updated in the next releases of DoudouLinux.
Children of senior preschool and primary school age will find a lot of interesting things in DoudouLinux. For example, the Kanagram program offers to solve anagrams, KGeography contains a huge knowledge base on geography and allows you to study countries, capitals, flags of states, and so on. KGeography has a riddle mode, by going into which a child can test his knowledge.
KHangMan is a “gallows” game loved by many, “Mr. Tuber” is a game in which you can populate an aquarium with fish, dress up a potato or a penguin, and at the same time learn the names of body parts on different languages. Using the KLettres application, you can learn the French and English alphabet, as well as the arrangement of letters on the keyboard. Almost every app has the ability to set the difficulty level, so your child's favorite educational game can grow with him.
Older children will probably want to use the operating system not only for games, but also for work. The “Activities” section contains the most popular non-game applications. This is a calculator, English-Russian dictionary, text editor, exchange system instant messages and, of course, the browser. The latter is worth mentioning separately. DoudouLinux integrates the DansGuardian web filter system, which prevents children from accessing sites containing adult content. This system uses the most different ways filtering: “black” lists of sites that have compromised themselves, filters based on page content in several languages (based on keywords), filters for graphic content and link addresses. Overall, DansGuardian is a fairly reliable system. For example, when you enter the word "sex" in Google page with search results is completely blocked.
Almost all programs collected in DoudouLinux can be found separately, downloaded and used within another distribution or even another operating system. For example, Childsplay is released not only for Linux, but also for Mac OS X and Windows. However, the main advantage of this system is the most simplified interface that allows even a small child to control the computer. In addition, it is very important that the little researcher will not be able to harm the current environment in any way - the shortcuts will not disappear anywhere, and no data important for parents will be deleted. And, of course, the undeniable advantage of DoudouLinux is that the system can work as a LiveCD, and therefore you can take it with you everywhere, for example, on a visit, where a child may get bored without his favorite toys.
⇡ Sugar on a Stick 4 - a system for communication between schoolchildren
- Developer: Sugar Labs
- Size: 540 MB
- Russian interface: no
The Sugar on a Stick operating system, based on Fedora, is a portable version of Sugar OS, which was used in children's laptops as part of the OLPC (One Laptop Per Child) educational project. Sugar on a Stick can be run from a flash drive on any computer, including netbooks.
This operating system is interesting because it implements an original approach to the user interface. There are no concepts such as “desktop”, “folder”, “file” or “window” used here. You can only work in one application at a time, which opens only in full screen mode. The system saves the session in a so-called log, and the user can return to it later. Using the journal, you can also organize your data by date, by frequency of access, or by file type. Since the log records all user actions, parents can easily see what their child was doing on the computer when they were not around.
Sugar on a Stick has a number of applications called Activities. Many of them are designed to work together. For example, there is a chat for local network, the ability to work together in a test editor, tools for exchanging bookmarks. In addition, using Sugar on a Stick you can listen to music, watch movies, read e-books, draw, browse websites, play educational games, write music, program and so on.
⇡ Conclusion
If you set out to choose the ideal Linux distribution for your child, you can also come across projects such as Foresight for Kids, Edubuntu, LinuxKidX and others. Unfortunately, the choice of educational software for children is not very wide. That is why such sets of applications as GCompris, Childsplay, as well as the graphic editor TuxPaint migrate from one children's distribution to another. Alas, in our pragmatic age of businessmen and trade deals, children are often simply forgotten. Increasingly, their upbringing and education are remembered when it promises at least some profit and commercial benefit. But this approach is fundamentally wrong, since the future depends on the attention shown to children.
Of course, everyone understands that the development of educational software and the creation of children's versions of operating systems are important, but without tangible support from wealthy organizations, these endeavors may remain at the stage of the first versions. I really want to believe that this will not happen.
Linux- the general name for UNIX-like operating systems based on the kernel of the same name and libraries compiled for it and system programs developed by the GNU Project.
GNU/Linux runs on PC-compatible systems of the Intel x86 family, as well as IA-64, AMD64, PowerPC, ARM and many others.
The GNU/Linux operating system also often includes programs that complement this operating system, and application programs, making it a full-fledged multifunctional operating environment. Unlike most other operating systems, GNU/Linux does not have a single “official” package. Instead, GNU/Linux comes in a large number of so-called distributions, which bundle GNU programs with the Linux kernel and other programs.
Development
Unlike Microsoft Windows, Mac OS and commercial UNIX-like systems, GNU/Linux does not have a geographic development center. There is no organization that owns this system; There is not even a single coordination center. Programs for Linux are the result of the work of thousands of projects. Some of these projects are centralized, some are concentrated in firms. Many projects bring together hackers from all over the world who only know each other through correspondence. Anyone can create their own project or join an existing one and, if successful, the results of the work will become known to millions of users. Users take part in testing free software and communicate directly with developers, which allows them to quickly find and fix errors and implement new features.
It is this flexible and dynamic development system, impossible for closed source projects, that makes GNU/Linux exceptionally cost-effective. Low cost of free development, well-established testing and distribution mechanisms, attracting people from different countries with different visions of problems, code protection under the GPL license - all this became the reason for the success of free software.
Of course, such high development efficiency could not help but interest large companies, which began to open their own projects. This is how Mozilla (Netscape, AOL), OpenOffice.org (Sun), a free clone of Interbase (Borland) - Firebird, SAP DB (SAP) appeared. IBM helped bring GNU/Linux to its mainframes.
On the other side, open source significantly reduces the cost of developing closed systems for GNU/Linux and allows the price of the solution to be reduced for the user. This is why GNU/Linux has become the platform often recommended for products such as Oracle, DB2, Informix, SyBase, SAP R3, Domino.
GNU/Linux distributions
Most users use distribution kits to install GNU/Linux. A distribution is not just a set of programs, but a series of solutions for different user tasks, united unified systems installation, management and updates of packages, configuration and support.
The most common distributions in the world:
UbuntuA distribution that quickly gained popularity, focused on ease of learning and use.
openSUSEFree version of the SuSE distribution, company-owned Novell. It is easy to configure and maintain thanks to the YaST utility.
FedoraMaintained by the community and RedHat Corporation, predates commercial releases of RHEL.
DebianAn international distribution developed by a large community of developers for non-commercial purposes. Served as the basis for the creation of many other distributions. It has a strict approach to the inclusion of proprietary software.
MandrivaFrench-Brazilian distribution, a merger of the former Mandrake and Conectiva.
SlackwareOne of the oldest distributions, it is distinguished by a conservative approach to development and use.
GentooA distribution package compiled from source codes. It allows you to customize the end system very flexibly and optimize performance, which is why it often calls itself a meta-distribution. Aimed at experts and experienced users.
ArchlinuxApplication-oriented latest versions programs and constantly updated, supporting both binary and source installations equally and built on the KISS philosophy of simplicity (Keep it simple, stupid), this distribution is aimed at competent users who want to have everything the power and modifiability of Linux, without sacrificing maintenance time.
In addition to those listed, there are many other distributions, both based on those listed and created from scratch and often designed to perform a limited number of tasks.
Each of them has its own concept, its own set of packages, its own advantages and disadvantages. Not one can satisfy all users, and therefore, next to the leaders, there are other companies and associations of programmers, offering their solutions, their distributions, their services. There are many LiveCDs built on GNU/Linux, such as Knoppix. LiveCD allows you to run GNU/Linux directly from the CD, without installing to HDD. Most major distributions, including Ubuntu, can be used as a LiveCD.
For those who want to thoroughly understand GNU/Linux, any of the distributions is suitable, but quite often so-called “source-based” distributions are used for this purpose, that is, they involve self-assembly of all components from source codes, such as LFS, Gentoo or CRUX.
Application
The distribution area of Linux is enormous, much larger than that of all other operating systems. In addition to the fact that Linux works great on ordinary home and work computers and servers, there are Linux adaptations to most modern processors, which allows the use of systems with the Linux kernel in network equipment, home “smart” appliances, robots, mobile phones, various portable devices and other equipment that supports programmable operations.
Ultimately, such a wide range of supported devices means superior software portability. For example, the same application can often be run with minimal effort on both a regular computer and mobile phone on Linux based. For example: Windows and its little brother Windows Mobile are completely incompatible platforms.
Modern Computer World– these are not only devices on operating systems Windows systems or macOS. There is another very interesting system - Linux. Honestly speaking, Linux OS is probably the most versatile operating system in the world that can be used on any device. For example, when you use your smartphone on the mobile operating system every time Android system, then you are accessing the Linux kernel directly. We are sure that you have at least heard about cars with autopilot. Guess what operating system the software for these self-driving cars is based on? That's right, Linux.
We have already written a lot on our website about, And . So, they all work under software control on the Linux kernel. Besides, everything large servers in data centers that host Internet sites, they also run on Linux. Why is Linux OS so popular? All this thanks to the fact that it is completely free and its source completely open. All this contributes to the fact that developers can easily change the code as they need it.
In our material we will continue to introduce you to the Linux operating system. And, perhaps, today we will place the main emphasis on explaining to you what an operating system is in general and, in particular, GNU / Linux. If you're still interested, then let's get started.
What is an operating system?
This may sound stupid, but not everyone fully understands what an operating system is. And so, an operating system is a special software that is used to interact equipment with each other and helps the user interact with the computer.
What is the essence of the process of managing the computer hardware by the operating system? If we take into account regular computer, then the operating system is responsible for the operation of the processor, random access memory, hard drive, modules wireless communication, mouse, keyboard, USB ports, video card, screen backlight and much more, that is, really everything. In addition, the operating system must also manage and external devices that can connect to a computer. It may be external hard disks, printers, scanners, flash drives, smartphones and so on.
In addition to the PC hardware, the operating system must also manage the software. That is, it makes sure that programs work correctly, allocates the required amount of RAM for them, distributes video card resources, and also effectively distributes resources between active and inactive programs.
The operating system must manage all software on the computer, ensuring that each application has enough memory to run, and also switches processes between active and inactive programs.
In addition, the operating system must also provide user interaction with the computer, accepting commands through the keyboard or other command input devices. As you can see, the operating system is the basis, because without it, a computer is nothing more than a box of chips.
What is GNU/Linux?
As we already wrote in our material about, a large number of different Linux versions– this is both its problem and its advantage. The problem is that many users simply don’t want to go through the hassle of choosing best distribution for myself. And the advantage is that users are not forced into any specific framework.
But when we say “Linux operating system,” in most cases we mean the GNU / Linux project. By and large, Linux is a kernel that clearly states how the hardware components of a computer should interact with each other. But how the user should interact with the Linux kernel is determined by GNU. So let's figure out what GNU is.
What is GNU?
GNU is historically the first attempt by the world programming community to make software free. Essentially, GNU is a set of free tools that help the user interact with the Linux kernel. Let's take a closer look at what this set of tools is.
So, to interact with the operating system kernel at a basic level, you need at least a terminal. The terminal is command line, through which you can send commands to the kernel, and it will perform certain actions (and the terminal is what programmers and system administrators they just love Linux). GNU offers its own “proprietary” terminal shell called BASH.
But you won’t get far with one terminal, because no one wants to remember hundreds of commands and see just a black screen on the computer in 2017. Therefore, users need a desktop similar to the one they see in Windows. And here GNU also does not care, offering its users one of the best desktops in the Linux world - GNOME. In addition, the most popular free cross-platform graphics editor GIMP, which is a worthy alternative to the powerful Adobe Photoshop, was also first developed specifically for GNU.
Although many developers who support the GNU project are very offended that they are the ones who invest a lot in the development of the Linux kernel, no one respects them for it. In many ways we understand them. But here an analogy with cars comes to mind. Everyone knows the manufacturer because of the wonderful engine, but no one knows who exactly makes the pedals or embroiders the manufacturer's logo on the seat.
But let's get back to the desktop. After all, it is he who shapes the user’s impressions of the operating system.
What is the desktop in GNU/Linux?
The GNU/Linux desktop itself is a layering of programs that help the user interact with the operating system kernel. It is very convenient to consider the desktop as a kind of pyramid of programs of different levels. At the lowest level is Hardware, which directly interacts with the kernel. The software consists of a set of libraries that provide, for example, distribution of system resources and work with peripherals.
At the second stage there is a set of programs that are responsible for the window interface, network connection, and so on. And the top of the pyramid is a set of desktop applications such as a calendar, calculator, clock, and so on.
Summary
The world of Linux is a wonderful world of free software. And GNU/Linux contributed a lot to this popularity. The creators of GNU should be given credit for the fact that they have been working for many years to make the world of software free. In our material, we tried to give you basic information about Linux as an operating system. Additionally, we have tried to give you a basic understanding of the desktop and how it interacts with the Linux kernel. We really hope that our material has dispelled your fears and concerns about using the Linux operating system and, in particular, GNU, in everyday work.
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