Unix/Linux: A Free OS

In practice unix (small "u") is now a free operating system. Whilst the trademark Unix and the associated operating system is commercial and closed source, just like Microsoft Windows and many other operating systems, Unix clones --- hereafter unix --- abound and many of these are open source (free as in speech) or GPL'd (free as in speech and as in beer), and cost little or nothing to purchase and license.


Open Source and the GPL

There are several versions of free software. Two of the most notable are:

For more on this and similar licencing issues see this.

Many commercial vendors are contributing to Open Source. Examples include:

XFS
This is a journalling file system developed by SGI.
Apple's Darwin (OS X)
The operating system underlying Apple's OS X has been released under a public licence. See this.


Advantages of Free Software


Cheaper (Free as in Beer)

There are several versions of unix available for free download, or the cost of media (e.g., CDs) plus postage-and-packing (and maybe a nominal fee of a few pounds) only. These are robust, stable O/S widely used by big companies for crucial and critical operations.

Those that I know of are mentioned below.


The Free Unices


Linux and Hardware Platforms

Linux is available for many hardware platforms: Sun/SPARC, SGI/MIPS, DEC?Compaq/Alpha, Apple/PowerPC, Apple/Motorola-68k, Intel and clones...


The Free Software Foundation (GNU)

The Free Software Foundation (GNU)... GNU




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