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From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia"GNU/Linux" redirects here. See also GNU/Linux naming controversy.This article is about operating systems that use the Linux kernel. For the kernel itself, see Linux kernel. For other uses, see Linux (disambiguation).Linux Tux.svgTux the penguin, mascot of Linux[1]Company / developer GNU Project, Linus Torvalds and many othersProgrammed in Assembly language, COS family Unix-likeWorking state CurrentSource model Free and open source softwareLatest stable release 2.6.39.1 (3 June 2011; 18 days ago)[2] [+/?]Latest unstable release 3.0-rc4 (21 June 2011; 0 days ago)[3] [+/?]Marketing target Desktops, servers, embedded devicesAvailable language(s) MultilingualAvailable programming languages(s) ManySupported platforms DEC Alpha, ARM, AVR32, Blackfin, ETRAX CRIS, FR-V, H8/300, Itanium, M32R, m68k, Microblaze, MIPS, MN103, PA-RISC, PowerPC, s390, S+core, SuperH, SPARC, TILE64, Unicore32, x86, XtensaKernel type MonolithicUserland GNU and othersD efault user interface Graphical (X Window System) and command-line interfaceLicense Various including GNU General Public License, BSD License, Apache License, MIT License, and others[4]Official website kernel.orgHow Linus Torvalds pronounces LinuxProblems listening to this file? See media help.

Linux (commonly play /?l?n?ks/ lin-?ks in English,[5][6] also pronounced /?l?n?ks/ lin-uuks[7] in Europe) refers to the family of Unix-like computer operating systems using the Linux kernel. Linux can be installed on a wide variety of computer hardware, ranging from mobile phones, tablet computers, routers, and video game consoles, to mainframes and supercomputers.[8][9][10][11] Linux is a leading server operating system, and runs the 10 fastest supercomputers in the world.[12]

The development of Linux is one of the most prominent examples of free and open source software collaboration; typically all the underlying source code can be used, freely modified, and redistributed, both commercially and non-commercially, by anyone under licenses such as the GNU General Public License. Typically Linux is packaged in a format known as a Linux distribution for desktop and server use. Some popular mainstream Linux distributions include Debian (and its derivatives such as Ubuntu), Fedora and openSUSE. Linux distributions include the Linux kernel and supporting utilities and libraries to fulfill the distribution's intended use.

A distribution oriented toward desktop use may include the X Window System, the GNOME and KDE Plasma desktop environments. Other distributions may include a less resource intensive desktop such as LXDE or Xfce for use on older or less-powerful computers. A distribution intended to run as a server may omit any graphical environment from the standard install and instead include other software such as the Apache HTTP Server and a SSH server like OpenSSH. Because Linux is freely redistributable, it is possible for anyone to create a distribution for any intended use. Commonly used applications with desktop Linux systems include the Mozilla Firefox web browser, the OpenOffice.org or LibreOffice office application suites, and the GIMP image editor.

The name "Linux" comes from the Linux kernel, originally written in 1991 by Linus Torvalds. The main supporting user space system tools and libraries from the GNU Project (announced in 1983 by Richard Stallman) are the basis for the Free Software Foundation's preferred name GNU/Linux.[13][14]

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