Linux OS
Linux is a family of open-source Unix-like operating systems based on the Linux kernel, an operating system kernel first released on 17 September 1991 by Linus Torvalds. Linux is typically packaged in a Linux distribution.
Distributions include the Linux kernel and system software and support libraries, many of which are provided by the GNU Project. Many Linux distributions use the word "Linux" in their name, but the Free Software Foundation uses the name "GNU/Linux" to emphasise the importance of GNU software, causing some controversy.
The most popular Linux distributions include Debian, Fedora and Ubuntu. Commercial distributions include Red Hat Enterprise Linux and SUSE Linux Enterprise Server. Linux distributions for desktops include a windowed system such as X11 or Wayland, and a desktop environment such as GNOME or KDE Plasma. Distributions intended for servers may omit graphics altogether, or include a solution stack such as LAMP. Since Linux is freely redistributable, anyone can create a distribution for any purpose.
Linux was originally developed for personal computers based on the Intel x86 architecture, but has since been ported to more platforms than any other operating system. Due to the dominance of Linux-based Android on smartphones, Linux also has the largest installed base of all general-purpose operating systems. Although it is used by only about 2.3% of desktop computers, the Chromebook, which runs the Linux kernel-based Chrome OS, dominates the US K-12 education market and accounts for nearly 20% of notebook sales under $300 in the US. Linux is the leading operating system on servers (over 96.4% of the operating systems on the top 1 million web servers are Linux), leads other large iron systems such as mainframe computers, and is the only OS used on TOP500 supercomputers (as of November 2017, having phased out all competitors).
Linux also runs on embedded systems, i.e. devices whose operating system is typically embedded in firmware and is highly customised for the system. This includes routers, automation controls, smart home technology (such as Google Nest), televisions (Samsung and LG's Smart TVs use Tizen and WebOS, respectively), cars (for example, Tesla, Audi, Mercedes-Benz, Hyundai and Toyota all rely on Linux), digital video recorders, video game consoles and smartwatches. The avionics of the Falcon 9 and Dragon 2 use a customised version of Linux.
Linux is one of the most important examples of collaboration between free and open-source software. The source code can be used, modified and distributed commercially or non-commercially by anyone under the terms of the respective licences, such as the GNU General Public License.
90% of all cloud infrastructure is powered by Linux, including supercomputers and cloud providers. 74% of the world's smartphones are Linux-based.
