What Is Linux?

Linux is a version of the Unix operating system. It was first created by Linus Torvalds in the 1990s while he was a student at Helsinki university.

For most Linux programs, including the operating system itself, the source code, which is the programming blueprint software engineers work on when creating a piece of software, is made readily available to anyone who wants it. This is a paradigm known as Open Source ~ under which software is only provided along with the facilities, legal and practical, to remake and rework it.

The Linux operating system has a reputation for being both reliable and arcane ~ making it a popular choice for running server applications which must operate continuously for long periods, but not so popular in the home, where ease of use is often paramount.

Many varieties of Linux exist, broadly compatible with one another but not entirely so. These are known as distributions, or distros for short.