Difference: GnuLinuxIntro (3 vs. 4)

Revision 404 Mar 2003 - TobyCabot

  Introductions 

Introduce myself, ask the class to introduce themselves.
 GNU/Linux is an operating system that's built from the Linux kernel and many other programs.  GNU/Linux is different from many other operating systems because you can get the source code and build it, learn from it, improve it, or get into a lot of trouble.
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+GNU/Linux "distributions" package GNU/Linux and other programs on CDROM and make it easy (at least easier) to install and run.
  What is Unix? 

Unix is an operating system that was developed at Bell Laboratories in the early 1970's.  First portable OS.  It's a multi-user operating system, so many people can use it at the same time (it's suitable for use as a server).
 Dennis Ritchie, Ken Thompson.
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+UC Berkeley.
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+UC Berkeley, the Berkeley Software Distribution (BSD).

The Unix code written by AT&T (eventually called System V or "SysV") was eventually sold several times and is now owned by a company called SCO.
  Free Software/Open Source History 

Richard Stallman, GNU Project, GPL, Free Software Foundation.
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+Other Free Software/Open Source successes:
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+The GPL license was designed to ensure that users would always have four freedoms (quoting the GNU web site):
 

 The freedom to run the program, for any purpose (freedom 0).
  The freedom to study how the program works, and adapt it to your needs (freedom 1). Access to the source code is a precondition for this.
  The freedom to redistribute copies so you can help your neighbor (freedom 2).
  The freedom to improve the program, and release your improvements to the public, so that the whole community benefits (freedom 3). Access to the source code is a precondition for this.
 

Other licenses are available, many are "Open Source".  BSD, Apache, Artistic, Public Domain.

Other Free Software/Open Source success stories:
 

 Apache webserver (60% of all web sites on the Internet)
  BIND (runs name/address translations)
  perl (most popular web site scripting language), gcc (compiles GNU/Linux)
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+ Apache webserver
  BIND
  perl, gcc
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+"The Cathedral and the Bazaar"
  GNU/Linux History
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+Linux Torvalds.  Linux Kernel Mailing List.  Distros: SLS, Slackware, Red Hat, Mandrake, Debian.
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+Linus Torvalds (a Swedish-speaking Finn) started in 1990/1991 while he was a student in Helsinki.  Linux Kernel Mailing List.  Distros: SLS, Slackware, Red Hat, Mandrake, Debian.  Reached 1.0 milestone in 1994, now at 2.4 (soon 2.6).

Development happens on multiple "branches" at the same time.  Odd-numbered branches (2.1, 2.3, 2.5 etc) are for developers, when they're ready for the rest of us they're renumbered as even-numbered branches (2.2, 2.4, someday 2.6).

What does GNU/Linux look like?  (Show a command-line login)

X Windows.  (Show KDE)
 GUI environments: GNOME, KDE.
 Unix power on inexpensive, commodity hardware.  Learn about computers.  Participate in improving it.  Have fun!
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+Last but not least, Linux has a fun mascot: Tux the penguin.
  What Can I Do With GNU/Linux?
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+ Experiment, learn
  Surf the web and communicate
  Run web, email services
  organize notes (like these), word processing/editing/publishing
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+ Desktop environments (KDE, GNOME)
  Surf the web and communicate (Mozilla, Konqueror, KMail, )
  Run web, email services (Apache, Sendmail)
  organize notes (like these), word processing/editing/publishing (OpenOffice, KOffice, GNOME Office)
  Write programs
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+ Experiment, learn
  Does GNU/Linux Have Any Weaknesses?
  mailing lists and discussion groups
  web sites
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+-- TobyCabot - 27 Feb 2003
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+-- TobyCabot and EdF - 27 Feb 2003

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