LINUX OPERATING

SYSTEM
ITLSA1
LESSON 1 – History of Linux
OVERVIEW

 The History of Linux

 Ubuntu Linux
 What is Linux
 The Linux Graphical User Interface
The History of Linux

 Unix:
 Time-sharing operating system kernel controlling computer resources.
 Rewritten in C in the 1970s for portability.
 Initially engineer-focused, lacked user-friendliness on desktops.
 Unix-based OSs:
 Derived from the original Unix Operating System.
 Share features and principles of the original Unix.
 Offer benefits of Unix alongside modern features:
 Graphical User Interfaces (GUI) like GNU.
 Support for multimedia applications.
 VPN and firewall support, among others.
The History of Linux

 Unix-like operating systems:

 Not necessarily derived from the
original Unix OS but mimic its
behavior.
 Include improvements available in
open-source software (OSS).
 Share design principles and features
of Unix but not its proprietary code
or specific implementations entirely.
The History of
Linux
 Unix Evolution:
 Introduced to UC Berkeley in the
mid-1970s, further developed by
staff and students.
 Minix and Linux:
 Minix, an educational Unix version
for Intel PCs, developed by
Tanenbaum in the 1980s.
 Linux was created by Torvalds in
1991 as a hobby, providing a Unix-
like OS for personal computers.
 Torvalds created a logo for Linux in
the shape of a penguin, named Tux.
The History of Linux

 Linux Development:
 First real version released in 1994, lightweight and fast.
 Runs on various hardware beyond Intel-based PCs.
 Linux Distributions:
 Various distributions developed from the Linux kernel,
including Mint, Fedora, Ubuntu, Debian, and openSUSE.
 GNU Project and GPL:
 GNU project promotes free software development.
 GPL ensures freedom to share, modify, and distribute
software, integral to Linux development.
 Ubuntu Linux
• Origins
o Founded in 2004 by Mark Shuttleworth, owner of from Canonical Ltd with a group of open-source developers.
o Aimed to create a new Linux-based desktop operating system.
o Built on a strong Debian foundation and the GNOME desktop environment.

• Releases
o First release in October 2004 as Ubuntu version 4.10, known as Warty Warthog.
o Follows a naming convention with alliterative names like Breezy Badger, Edgy Eft, Feisty Fawn, Trusty Tahr, and
Jammy Jellyfish.

• Philosophy
o Name derived from the African phrase "Umuntu ngumuntu ngabantu," meaning "a person is a person through
people."
o Aimed at bringing the philosophy of Ubuntu (humanity towards others) to the software world.

• Variations
o Other variations include Gobuntu, Edubuntu, Xubuntu, and Kubuntu, each tailored for specific use cases or user
preferences.
What is Linux

 Linux is a multi-user,
multitasking operating system.
 It is capable of:
o Managing resources
o Controlling input and output
o Managing storage space
o Detecting equipment failure
o Maintaining system security
What is Linux

 Multitasking in Linux:
o Linux can handle multiple programs
simultaneously, leading to more
productive resource usage.
o Pre-emptive multitasking: Operating
system controls task allocation and
clock cycles, rather than applications.
 Multi-user functionality:
o Linux allows multiple users to access
the system simultaneously.
o Users share computer resources,
enabling collaboration and resource
sharing.
o Expensive equipment like printers can
be shared among users.
  Linux Features:
o Operating system responsible for managing hardware

What is o
resources and software applications.
Multitasking: Handles multiple programs
simultaneously, utilizing resources efficiently.
Linux o Multi-user: Allows multiple users to access and share
system resources simultaneously, including printers.
o Interactive: Users can enter commands at the shell,
and the system responds accordingly.
o Demand-paged virtual memory system: Runs programs
requiring more memory than installed RAM.
o Security: Built-in security features.
o Full 32- or 64-bit memory access.
o Compatibility: Can coexist with other operating
systems on the same disk.
o Extensive hardware compatibility: Supports a wide
range of hardware configurations.
o Unix-like: Written from scratch, retaining Unix
functionality with additional features.
What is Linux
 Linux Usage:
 Personal workstation: Can be standalone or
networked, compatible with Windows for file
sharing.
 Server: Acts as a file/print server with powerful
multitasking abilities, used by ISPs for internet
services.
 Three Main Parts of Linux:
 Kernel: Heart of the OS, communicates directly
with hardware, manages resources, schedules
programs, controls file system and I/O, tracks
user logins.
 Shell: Provides interface between user and
kernel, graphical or command-line shells
available (e.g., Bourne, C, tcsh, bash).
 Utilities and Applications: Executable programs
for specific tasks, customizable to user needs.
The Linux Graphical User Interface
 The Linux GUI is created using a system called X Windows.
 Not to be confused with Microsoft Windows.
 X Windows is a system that provides a graphical user interface (GUI) for Unix-like operating
systems, consisting of an X Server for display management and a window manager for
additional GUI features and customization.
The Linux Graphical User Interface

X Windows and Linux X Server:

GUI:
The X Window system provides a Sets up graphics display, tracks mouse
configurable GUI for Linux, separating movements, keystrokes, and windows.
the interface from the windows. Communicates with hardware via Linux
Requires two components: X Server kernel.
and window manager. Common X Servers include XFree86,
X Server controls display, input/output, Metro-X, and Accelerated-X.
while window manager provides
menus, borders, etc.
The Linux Graphical User Interface

Window Provides additional GUI features like colour backgrounds, window borders, and menus.
Highly customizable, allowing users to choose appearance and functionality.
Manager: Examples include FVWM, Afterstep, IceWM, Enlightenment.

Interaction X Servers and window managers communicate in a predefined manner.

Applications can run on one machine but display output on another, suitable for networked
and environments.
Desktop environments like GNOME and KDE offer integrated systems with consistent look and feel,
Flexibility: handling cross-application data embedding.
END OF
LESSON 1