HOW IS LINUX CURRENTLY USED

DESKTOP

vMost modern distributions include a graphical user environment, with, as of February 2015, the two most popular environments being the KDE Plasma Desktop and Xfce.

vRather desktop environments and Linux distributions select components from a pool of free and open-source software with which they construct a GUI implementing some more or less strict design guide.

v GNOME, for example, has its human interface guidelines as a design guide, which gives the human-machine interface an important role, not just when doing the graphical design, but also when considering people with disabilities, and even when focusing on security. 

vThe collaborative nature of free software development allows distributed teams to perform language localization of some Linux distributions for use in locales where localizing proprietary systems would not be cost-effective. In this case the Lanka Linux User Group played a major part in developing the localized system by combining the knowledge of university professors, linguists, and local developers.

COMPONENT AND INSTALLATION

Typically done through the use of package managers such as the

v Synaptic Package Manager

v Package Kit

v Yum Extender

š Most major Linux distributions have extensive repositories

š Often containing 1000 of packages

š Not all the software that can run on Linux is available from the official repositories 

š Alternatively, users can install packages from unofficial repositories, download pre-compiled packages directly from websites, or compile the source code by themselves.

š All these methods come with different degrees of difficulty, compiling the source code is in general considered a challenging process for new Linux users, but it is hardly needed in modern.

GAMING

š In the past, not many games were available for Linux, but in the recent years, more games have been released with support for Linux.

š Nowadays, many games support Linux (especially Indie games), except for a few AAA title games. 

š Android (which uses the Linux kernel) has gained much developer interest and is one of the main platforms for mobile game development along with iOS operating system by Apple for iPhone and iPad devices.

š Some Linux users play Windows games through Wine or Cross Over Linux.

SERVERS, MAINFRAMES & SUPERCOMPUTERS

š Linux can even help if our computer accidentally formatted by entire drive.

š There are a lot of great Chrome apps out there for editing audio, video, images, coding, and more. Sometimes user need powerful desktop.We install Linux alongside Chrome OS really easily, and get access to a traditional desktop with a bunch of apps.

š Then,Linux can be used as based web host like Dreamhost to host your own personal RSS reader with Tiny Tiny RSS, or your own Dropbox clone with OwnCloud.

š Linux distributions are also most commonly used as operating systems for supercomputers in the decade since the Earth Simulator supercomputer, all the fastest supercomputers have used Linux. 

š Several operating systems for smart devices, such as smartphones, tablet computers, smart TVs, and in-vehicle infotainment (IVI) systems, are based on Linux. Major platforms for such systems include Android, Firefox OS, Mer and Tizen.

š Due to its low cost and ease of customization, Linux is often used in embedded systems. In the non-mobile telecommunications equipment sector, the majority of customer-premises equipment (CPE) hardware runs some Linux-based operating system.

HOW WAS LINUX DEVELOPED ORIGINALLY

š In 1991, while attending the University of Helsinki,  Linus Benedict Torvalds became curious about operating systems and frustrated by the licensing of MINIX, which at the time limited it to educational use only.

š He began to work on his own operating system kernel, which eventually became the Linux kernel.

š Torvalds began the development of the Linux kernel on MINIX and applications written for MINIX were also used on Linux.

š Later, Linux matured and further Linux kernel development took place on Linux systems. 

šGNU applications also replaced all MINIX components, because it was advantageous to use the freely available code from the GNU Project with the fledgling operating system; code licensed under the GNU GPL can be reused in other computer programs as long as they also are released under the same or a compatible license.

š Torvalds initiated a switch from his original licence, which prohibited commercial redistribution, to the GNU GPL.

š Developers worked to integrate GNU components with the Linux kernel, making a fully functional and free operating system.

THE CREATOR OF LINUX

The creator of Linux is Linus Benedict Torvalds.

THE FUTURE OF LINUX

WHAT IS LINUX?

š Linux is one of the faster growing operating system.

š Linux (pronounced LINN-uks) was introduced in 1991.

š Linux is a popular multitasking UNIX-type operating system.

š In addition to the basic operating system, Linux also includes many free programming languages and utility programs.

š Linux is not proprietary software like the operating systems discussed thus far.

š Instead, Linux is open source software, which means its code is available to the public for use, modification, and redistribution.

š Linux is available in a variety of forms, known as distributions of Linux are command-line. Others are GUI (graphical user interface).

š Users obtain Linux in a variety of ways. Some people download it free from the Web.

š Others purchase it from vendors, who bundle their own software with the operating system.

šLinux optical discs are included in many Linux books and also are available for purchase from vendors.

š For purchasers of new personal computers, some retailers such as Dell will preinstall Linux on the hard disk on request.