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Open and Closed Source Systems

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A collaboration of people contributing free software is the key to Linux becoming a technically impressive product. Linux is a UNIX variant, but is much more effective do to the ability to create and use free software.

Not UNIX

Linux is an operating system created based on the Unix operating system all of the improvements to Unix used GNU tools to create the kernel that would become Linux. GNU is an acronym that stands for “Not Unix” and is part of a project of people collaborating over the Internet, creating free to use software and source codes. According to Stallings, W. (2012) “Linus Torvalds, a Finnish student of computer science, wrote the initial version.” and “posted an early version of Linux on the Internet in 1991.". Since then, a number of people, collaborating over the Internet, have contributed to the development of Linux, all under the control of Torvalds.

Seal of Approval

GNU Public License (GPL) is the approval of the collaborated efforts of the developers of the free software and is approved by a specific foundation. The foundation that gives the seal of approval of the publicly created software is called Free Software Foundation (FSF). This works by a collaboration of people working over the Internet that create free software using GNU tools, which is than overseen by the FSF and if approved released under the GNU Public License (GPL).

GNU Tools

GNU tools simplify the way in which programmer contribute free software to Linux, This is done by using software which allows the programmer to submit their contributed software to a GNU cross complier that compare the create software to libraries of already created software. GNU linker will then include the source codes that will improve Linux into the Linux kernel. This process will help determine if the software is needed or not, ultimately deciding if the FSF will give the software the seal of approval.

Linux is a great example of how people can come together with the intention of creating an operating system that easily configured, uses a variety of hardware platform at optimal performance, and can change application source codes for certain requirements without the idea of profit, other than technologically.

References

Stallings, W. (2012). Operating systems: Internals and design principles (7th ed.). Boston, MA:

Prentice Hall.

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