Linux operating system
Linux is a family of open-source Unix-like operating systems built around the Linux kernel. It serves as the foundation for a vast array of operating system distributions (like Ubuntu, Fedora, Debian) that power everything from supercomputers and servers to embedded systems and mobile devices…
Key facts
- First appeared
- 1991
- Category
- technology
- Problem solved
- Linux was created to provide a free and open-source Unix-like operating system kernel for x86 personal computers, addressing the limitations and licensing restrictions of academic operating systems like MINIX and the high cost of proprietary Unix systems. It aimed to be a fully functional, freely available system for hobbyists and developers.
- Platforms
- x86/x64 (desktops, servers), RISC-V, PowerPC, MIPS, ARM (embedded systems, mobile, IoT, Raspberry Pi), IBM System Z (mainframes), Supercomputers
Related technologies
Notable users
- Amazon
- New York Stock Exchange
- Tesla
- SUSE
- NASA
- Netflix
- IBM
- Red Hat
- Facebook (Meta)