資料來源 : pyDict
使用於PC上的unix系統
資料來源 : WordNet®
Linux
n : an open-source version of the UNIX operating system
資料來源 : Free On-Line Dictionary of Computing
Linux
("Linus Unix") /li'nuks/ (but see below)
An implementation of the {Unix} {kernel} originally written
from scratch with no proprietary code.
The kernel runs on {Intel} and {Alpha} hardware in the general
release, with {SPARC}, {PowerPC}, {MIPS}, {ARM}, {Amiga},
{Atari}, and {SGI} in active development. The SPARC, PowerPC,
ARM, {PowerMAC} - {OSF}, and 68k ports all support {shells},
{X} and {networking}. The Intel and SPARC versions have
reliable {symmetric multiprocessing}.
Work on the kernel is coordinated by Linus Torvalds, who holds
the copyright on a large part of it. The rest of the
copyright is held by a large number of other contributors (or
their employers). Regardless of the copyright ownerships, the
kernel as a whole is available under the {GNU} {General Public
License}. The GNU project supports Linux as its kernel until
the research {Hurd} kernel is completed.
This kernel would be no use without {application programs}.
The GNU project has provided large numbers of quality tools,
and together with other {public domain} software it is a rich
Unix environment. A compilation of the Linux kernel and these
tools is known as a Linux distribution. Compatibility modules
and/or {emulators} exist for dozens of other computing
environments.
The kernel version numbers are significant: the odd numbered
series (e.g. 1.3.xx) is the development (or beta) kernel which
evolves very quickly. Stable (or release) kernels have even
major version numbers (e.g. 1.2.xx).
There is a lot of commercial support for and use of Linux,
both by hardware companies such as {Digital}, {IBM}, and
{Apple} and numerous smaller network and integration
specialists. There are many commercially supported
distributions which are generally entirely under the GPL. At
least one distribution vendor guarantees {Posix} compliance.
Linux is particularly popular for {Internet Service
Providers}, and there are ports to both parallel
supercomputers and {embedded} {microcontrollers}. {Debian} is
one popular {open source} distribution.
The pronunciation of "Linux" has been a matter of much debate.
Many, including Torvalds, insist on the short I pronunciation
/li'nuks/ because "Linus" has an /ee/ sound in Swedish
(Linus's family is part of Finland's 6% ethnic-Swedish
minority) and Linus considers English short /i/ to be closer
to /ee/ than English long /i:/ dipthong. This is consistent
with the short I in words like "linen". This doesn't stop
others demanding a long I /li:'nuks/ following the english
pronunciation of "Linus" and "minus". Others say /li'niks/
following {Minix}, which Torvalds was working on before Linux.
{More on pronunciation
(http://www.foldoc.org/pub/linux-pronunciation)}.
{LinuxHQ (http://www.linuxhq.com/)}. {slashdot
(http://slashdot.org/)}. {freshmeat (http://freshmeat.net/)}.
{Woven Goods (http://www.fokus.gmd.de/linux/)}. {Linux
Gazette (http://www.ssc.com/lg)}.
{funet Linux Archive (ftp://ftp.funet.fi/pub/Linux)}, {US
mirror (ftp://sunsite.unc.edu/pub/Linux/)}, {UK Mirror
(ftp://sunsite.doc.ic.ac.uk/packages/Linux/)}.
(2000-06-09)