Linux is an operating system based on UNIX and is becoming increasingly popular. This tutorial will explore the history and development of Linux, its user-based model, and its unique interface, which draws heavily from the UNIX tradition.
Linux History
The appearance and operation of Linux resemble other UNIX systems, as the Linux project was designed with UNIX compatibility as its primary goal. However, Linux is relatively new compared to most UNIX systems. In 1991, a Finnish student named Linus Torvalds developed a small, self-contained kernel for the 80386 processor. The Linux source code was made free on the Internet during its initial stages, enabling anyone to create their own version or distribution. As time passed, the Linux system grew to include much of the functionality of UNIX, starting with an initial kernel that utilized only a small subset of UNIX system services.
The Linux Kernel
On May 14, 1991, the initial version of the Linux kernel, Version 0.01, was made available to the public. At that time, it could function solely with 80386-compatible Intel processors and hardware and lacked networking capabilities. The virtual memory subsystem was also essential and did not support memory-mapped files, while the device driver support was limited.
On March 14, 1994, Linux 1.0 was released, a significant achievement for the Linux operating system. This release took three years of constant development of the Linux kernel. The most remarkable new feature was the networking version 1.0, which included support for UNIX's standard TCP/IP protocol suite and a BSD-compatible socket interface for network programming. Moreover, many additional hardware supports were added to this release.
System V UNIX-style inter-process communication (IPC) includes collective memory, semaphores, message queues, and support for dynamically loadable and unloadable kernel modules.
Design Principles of Linux OS
At first glance, Linux may seem like a typical UNIX operating system with a non-microkernel design. It is a multiuser, multitasking system with complete UNIX-compatible tools. The file system in Linux follows the traditional UNIX format, and it makes full use of the usual UNIX networking model.
More on Linux OS
The development of Linux as an operating system significantly impacted its interior design. Although compatible with multiple platforms, Linux was initially created solely for PC architecture. During its early stages of development, a large amount of work was done by individuals rather than well-funded research facilities. As a result, Linux was designed from the beginning to maximize functionality while using limited resources.
Linux can run smoothly on a device with multiple processors, several gigabytes of storage, and hundreds of megabytes of RAM. However, it can still operate effectively even with just 4 MB of memory. The focus on speed and efficiency remains a fundamental aspect of Linux's design goals. Recent ongoing efforts are concentrated on achieving the third and fourth primary design objectives.
- standardization and
- security
which Linux has also achieved at the same time.