Linux is a free UNIX clone written from scratch by Linus Torvalds and a team of programmers over the Internet. Linux aims towards POSIX compliance (a set of standards that show what a UNIX should be).

It contains all of the features that you would expect in not only a UNIX, but any Operating System. Some of the features included are true multitasking, virtual memory, the world's fastest TCP/IP drivers, shared libraries, and of course multi-user capabilities (this means 100s of people can use the one computer at the same time, either over a network, the Internet, or on laptops/computers or terminals connected to the serial ports of those computers). Linux runs fully in protected mode (unlike Windows) and supports fully fledged 32-bit and 64-bit multitasking.

Linux also has a completely free X Windows implementation comforming to the X/Open standard. Most existing X Based programs will run under Linux without any modification. X Windows for the uninitiated is a GUI, similar to Microsoft Windows but is feature packed (and is rather large, consuming around 15-20MB). Most Linux distributions come completely pre configured to a factory configuration, and many distributions also have graphical based configuration utilities and installers (not unlike Windows' Control Panel).

In addition, programs intended for SCO Unix 4.2 and SVR4 will run on most Linux systems unaltered (this is due to the assistance of a driver called IBCS), for example Corel Draw! for SCO and the Dataflex database system. The Linux DOS emulator, DOSEMU will runs packets of MS-DOS applications, including some that require VGA or SVGA graphics capabilities. Windows programs can also be run inside of X-Windows with the help of an emulator called WINE. Usually, Windows programs can run up to 10 times faster than on a native system, due to Linux's buffering capabilities.

As usually expected from most Unices, Linux includes advanced networking capabilities. Since the people developing Linux collabrated and used the Internet for their development efforts, networking support came early in Linux's development stage. Networking support in Linux is superior to most other Operating Systems. Linux supports connection to the Internet or any other network using TCP/IP or IPX via ethernet, fast ethernet, ATM (in Alpha development), modem, HAM/packet radio (X.25 protocol), ISDN, token ring, or PLIP (modified printer cable to another computer). As an Internet/WWW server, Linux is a very good choice, often out performing Windows NT, Novell and most UNIX systems on the same hardware (even multiprocessor boxen). Linux has been chosen by hundreds of thousands of ISPs, by many University computer labs, and suprisingly many businesses. All people that need reliable server and network performance in many different situations.

Linux supports all of the most common Internet protocols, including Electronic Mail, UseNet News, Gopher, Telnet, Web, FTP, Talk, POP, NTP, IRC, NFS, DNS, NIS, SNMP, Kerberos, WAIS and many more. Linux can operate as a client or as a server for all of the above and has already been widely used and tested in the above roles.

Linux also fits easily and tightly into your Local Area Network, no matter what combination of systems you might be running. Full and seamless support for Macintosh, DOS, Windows, Windows NT, Windows 95, Novell, OS/2, all using their own native protocols. Linux can do all of this in just 16MB of memory or even less (with swapspace). Typically, you could have all the above running in 8MB with 16MB swap (a total of 24MB RAM).

Linux is developing at a blindingly fast speed, and ports exist to PowerPC, Macintosh, Amiga's and some Atari's. If Linus Torvalds ever does decide to abandon the project, since we have the full source code available, he can just assign somebody else to take his place. So yes, despite what some people are saying, the Linux kernel development will still continue no matter what happens to Linus. Somebody else will just continue with it.

The Linux Kernel is Copyright © Linus B. Torvalds and is Copyrighted under the terms of the General Public License, or GPL. The GPL states that the source code must be freely distributed and that everybody is allowed to make copies for their own use, or to sell or give to other people (with a few restrictions). You can obtain and read the GPL by clicking on this link or by browsing the file COPYING in your /usr/src/linux directory of your local Linux system. Most Linux software is GPL'ed, however, this does not mean that all software developed or ported to Linux has to be. Other common licensed include the Berkeley BSD License, the Artistic License, and the LGPL (General Public License for Libraries). Some commercial software packages have more restrictive licenses, such as the common copying restrictions we face with Windows, and the likes.