Linux is a free open-source operating system (OS) based on UNIX that was created by Linus Torvalds in 1991. Users can modify and create variations of the source code known as distributions for computers and other devices. The most common usage is as a server, but Linux is also used in desktop computers, smart phones, e-book readers, gaming consoles etc. A distribution of Linux includes the kernel (the central OS component and the bridge between a software application and its data), system utilities, programs and tools to download, install and uninstall OS updates.
Distributed worldwide under a General Public License (GNU) -- meaning "GNUs not UNIX", a recursive acronym -- there are literally hundreds of Linux distributions or "distros" around the world. Many desktop Linux distributions have intuitive graphical user interfaces (GUIs), allowing for greater ease of use than their predecessors. Objects and data can be manipulated and have resizable icons, windows, buttons, folders and other features similar to Windows. Proponents of Linux point to it as a robust, scalable and flexible OS. It is suited to programming, and many companies use Linux as a development platform. Critics point to the lack of application support and the lack of user-friendliness. Similar to the PC/Mac debate, the Linux/Windows comparison can often be a heated discussion with no easy answers due to the inherent subjectivity.
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